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What is a purchasing buyer and how to become one
Purchasing buyers, also known as buying agents, must evaluate the goods their business is supposed to sell, how much of the product they are supposed to purchase, and which retailer is better suited to their needs. Perhaps the most valuable part of this profession is the opportunity to consider the needs of the consumers and then use the insight to make the business more successful. To achieve this, the purchasing buyer must research and recognize patterns in the marketplace.
Purchasing buyers are active in the whole stock chain process. Their everyday responsibilities involve tracking patterns in market demand to decide which goods should be marketed. They evaluate previous purchases to determine potential demands for fulfillment. They also research suppliers and sign arrangements for the production of product performance.
Applicants may begin their career as assistant purchasing buyers and work their way up to the role of purchasing buyer. Certification and experience can continue to make these advances possible. Many looking to advance their careers may consider qualifications from either the American Purchasing Society or the Institute for Supply Management.
Avg. Salary $47,471
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%
Asian 7.78%
Black or African American 9.01%
Hispanic or Latino 12.37%
Unknown 4.40%
White 65.67%
Genderfemale 58.13%
male 41.87%
Age - 49American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 49Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Purchasing buyer career paths
Key steps to become a purchasing buyer
Explore purchasing buyer education requirements
Start to develop specific purchasing buyer skills
Skills Percentages Purchase Orders 29.05% Logistics 6.30% Cost Savings 4.73% ERP 3.81% MRP 3.70% Complete relevant purchasing buyer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New purchasing 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 purchasing buyer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real purchasing buyer resumes.Research purchasing buyer duties and responsibilities
- Manage the development of RFP process per departmental and legal requirements.
- Create and manage requisitions, code billing statements and reconcile monthly bills in PeopleSoft.
- Manage logistics and materials receive for appropriate quantities, timeliness and accuracy to complete project project.
- Complete request for quotation (RFQ), design reviews, and advance product quality planning (APQP).
Prepare your purchasing buyer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your purchasing 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 purchasing 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 purchasing buyer resume templates
Build a professional purchasing 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 purchasing buyer resume.
Apply for purchasing buyer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a purchasing 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 did you land your first purchasing buyer job
Are you a purchasing buyer?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average purchasing buyer salary
The average purchasing buyer salary in the United States is $47,471 per year or $23 per hour. Purchasing buyer salaries range between $35,000 and $62,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do purchasing buyers rate their job?
Purchasing buyer reviews
Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.
Works not recognized by upper management!
To be involved in negotiations
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
I learned all that I knew by doing. I had no college just hands on by day to day interaction with vendors and co workers.
In most cases I'm finding you need a college degree to do what I did without it. I know there is a company out there that would train me. I could be an asset if given a chance.
Updated January 8, 2025
