How long does it take to become a Buyer?

It takes 6 years of professional experience to become a buyer. That is the time it takes to learn specific buyer skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 9 to 11 years years to become a buyer.

How do I become a retail buyer?

To become a retail buyer, you will need some education and prior work experience. Most companies require at least a high school diploma for employment as a retail buyer. Though you may find employment without a high school diploma, consider pursuing a bachelor's degree in merchandising, marketing, or advertising. A bachelor's degree may open more doors and increase the earning potential of a retail buyer.

How do I get a job as a buyer?

To get a job as a buyer, you will need a minimum of a high school diploma and some prior work experience in sales or retail. Some buyers earn a bachelor's degree in business, merchandising, economics, or applied sciences. This degree will help you land a higher-paying position.

What qualifications do you need to be a buyer?

The qualifications you need to become a buyer include some educational background and work experience. The more educational credentials you have, the less work experience is needed and vise versa.

Who is called a buyer?

A buyer is called anyone in finance and business professions who investigates, evaluates, and purchases products for companies to sell or use in their operations. Also known as purchasing agents, buyers must work within a budget and often negotiate competitive pricing for the items they want to buy.

What is a buyer and how to become one

Updated June 25, 2024

5 min read

A buyer sources, negotiates, and purchases goods and services on behalf of a company or organization. They research market trends, evaluate suppliers, and make decisions based on quality, price, and availability. Buyers work closely with sales teams, vendors, and other departments to deliver products on time and meet the needs of the business. They also manage inventory levels and track expenses. Successful buyers have communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work under pressure.

How long does it takes to become a buyer?

It typically takes 5-6 years to become a buyer:

Years 1-4: Obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as business, marketing, or supply chain management.
Years 5-6: Accumulating the necessary work experience. This may include on-site or on-the-job training for 3-6 months.

ScoreBuyerUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $54,049

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

4.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.77%

Asian 6.71%

Black or African American 4.02%

Hispanic or Latino 9.99%

Unknown 3.12%

White 75.39%

Gender

female 56.09%

male 43.91%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress Level

8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.8

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.3

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Buyer?

Pros

Opportunity to negotiate and make deals
Constantly learning about new products and industries
Opportunity for travel
Potential for high earning potential with commission or bonuses
Ability to take ownership of projects

Cons

Work can be high pressure and stressful
Long hours, including evenings and weekends
Reliance on technology which can be frustrating if it malfunctions
Dealing with difficult vendors or customers
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation in certain industries

Key steps to become a buyer

Explore buyer education requirements

The educational requirements for a buyer are typically a bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Accounting, Management, or Supply Chain Management. According to the data, 76.83% of buyers hold a bachelor's degree. However, some buyers may also hold certifications such as Certified Supply Chain Professional, Certified Purchasing Professional, International Accredited Business Accountant, Certified Product Safety Manager, or Certified Professional in Supply Management. Top schools for buyers include California State University - Bakersfield, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Stanford University, and Pennsylvania State University.

Most common buyer degrees

Bachelor's

63.6 %

Associate

18.2 %

High School Diploma

7.3 %

Start to develop specific buyer skills

A buyer needs to be skilled in managing vendor relationships, resolving performance issues, and preventing problems. They must also be able to handle inventory management, including coordinating delivery times and identifying discrepancies. Strong negotiation and communication skills are also vital for a buyer, as they need to work with vendors, resolve issues, and participate in proposal evaluation.

Skills	Percentages
Purchase Orders	22.11%
Customer Service	10.95%
Logistics	4.61%
Supplier Performance	3.89%
MRP	3.88%

Complete relevant buyer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New buyers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a buyer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real buyer resumes.

Research buyer duties and responsibilities

A buyer's job involves managing vendor relationships, tracking orders, and ensuring timely deliveries. They handle performance issues and other difficulties to prevent escalation and resolve problems. They also analyze consumer responses, market trends, and sales volumes to develop and implement quarterly promotional advertisement sales forecasts.

Achieve QA initiatives by increasing transparency and communication with multiple departments and suppliers to achieve daily/weekly/monthly production requirements and expedites.
Manage all incoming RMA equipment, processing and directing to correct locations and departments.
Create, analyze and manage recaps pertaining to inventory, trends, OTB, and markdowns.
Manage KanBan spreadsheets to optimize inventory levels and supplier performance.

Prepare your buyer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your buyer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a buyer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Buyer Resume templates

Build a professional Buyer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Buyer resume.

Apply for buyer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a buyer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do buyers rate their job?

5/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Buyer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019

Pros

To be involved in negotiations

Cons

I like all in this job, because I have the choise to be in relation with a lot of persons and know what they are doing against purchasing also what the use to buy and under what coondition

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019

Pros

Negotiating with suppliers, influencing others, solving problems, making a positive difference to the company's bottom line.

What is a buyer and how to become one

How long does it takes to become a buyer?

What are the pros and cons of being a Buyer?

Buyer career paths

Key steps to become a buyer

Explore buyer education requirements

Most common buyer degrees

Start to develop specific buyer skills

Complete relevant buyer training and internships

Research buyer duties and responsibilities

Prepare your buyer resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Buyer Resume templates

Apply for buyer jobs

How Did You Land Your First Buyer Job

Average buyer salary

How do buyers rate their job?

Buyer reviews

Buyer FAQs

How long does it take to become a Buyer?

How do I become a retail buyer?

How do I get a job as a buyer?

What qualifications do you need to be a buyer?

Who is called a buyer?

Search for buyer jobs

Buyer jobs by state