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What is a purchasing supervisor and how to become one
Purchasing supervisors oversee the purchasing department and are responsible for sourcing materials, contract management, budget control, and many more. They are in charge of hiring the right individuals for the job, and they work together as a team. They also provide guidance and an ample amount of training to the recruited staff. Purchasing supervisors earn an average sum of $31 per hour, which amounts to $65,000 a year.
Purchasing supervisors are primarily tasked with finding vendors and suppliers. They plan, schedule, and ensure supply deliveries work with project schedules. Part of their duties also includes reading and creating reports and managing the procurement budget using software programs. Due to the nature of the job, they need to possess excellent math, analytical, and decision-making skills to succeed in the field.
Purchasing supervisors typically hold a bachelor's degree in business or a related field. They are expected to have advanced computer skills and in-depth knowledge of business fundamentals. Being a great leader with the ability to prepare documents and reports is preferred by some employers.
Avg. Salary $68,702
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%
Asian 7.84%
Black or African American 9.08%
Hispanic or Latino 12.45%
Unknown 4.41%
White 65.44%
Genderfemale 42.57%
male 57.43%
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 supervisor career paths
Key steps to become a purchasing supervisor
Explore purchasing supervisor education requirements
Start to develop specific purchasing supervisor skills
Skills Percentages Purchase Orders 19.64% MRP 5.34% Supplier Performance 4.42% Logistics 4.16% Corrective Action 4.11% Complete relevant purchasing supervisor training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New purchasing supervisors 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 supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real purchasing supervisor resumes.Research purchasing supervisor duties and responsibilities
- Manage increasing procurement demands of inventory/supplies for manufacturing activities base on an ERP MRP system.
- Lead and analyze all RFQ's, RFI's and RFP's from different qualify vendors.
- Interview current and prospective suppliers to determine supplier capabilities, logistics and inventory control and management while negotiate delivery terms.
- Review requisitions and RFP's, obtain quotations, negotiate pricing, examine bids and award contracts.
Prepare your purchasing supervisor resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your purchasing supervisor 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 supervisor 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 supervisor resume templates
Build a professional purchasing supervisor 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 supervisor resume.
Apply for purchasing supervisor jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a purchasing supervisor 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 supervisor job
Are you a purchasing supervisor?
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Average purchasing supervisor salary
The average purchasing supervisor salary in the United States is $68,702 per year or $33 per hour. Purchasing supervisor salaries range between $45,000 and $104,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do purchasing supervisors rate their job?
Purchasing supervisor 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
