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What is a retail buyer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Retail Buyers research, select, and buy merchandise and goods for retail companies. They are employed by large department stores or smaller specialty shops. The goods retail buyers purchase are resold to the public. They consider current inventory, sales trends, supply chain, and customer needs when making purchases. Also, they may supervise the receiving department of the company. Likewise, they maintain inventory, expenditure, and delivery. Retail buyers negotiate prices, obtain quotes, settle agreements and perform budget analyses.

Most employers seek applicants that have at least a bachelor's degree in business, economics, or a related field. Having relevant certifications is a plus. The key skills for this role include negotiation, analytical, attention to detail, interpersonal, and communication skills. You must have an understanding of the buying process, sales practices, and procurement function. You must also be proficient in Microsoft Office. Retail buyers earn about $60,499 annually. Their salary varies between $35,000 and $105,000.

ScoreRetail BuyerUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,720

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.33%

Asian 5.83%

Black or African American 8.13%

Hispanic or Latino 17.90%

Unknown 4.53%

White 63.27%

Gender

female 68.51%

male 31.49%

Age - 43
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 - 43
Stress Level
8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.9

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.4

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Retail Buyer career paths

Key steps to become a retail buyer

  1. Explore retail buyer education requirements

    Most common retail buyer degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.4 %

    Associate

    16.5 %

    High School Diploma

    6.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific retail buyer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Gross Margin7.98%
    Vendor Relations7.97%
    Customer Service7.39%
    Retail Management6.79%
    Retail Store6.47%
  3. Complete relevant retail buyer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New retail 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 retail buyer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real retail buyer resumes.
  4. Research retail buyer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the open-to-buy (OTB) process by monitoring stock levels
    • Lead team of content support/merchandisers to achieve and consistently hit KPI goals.
    • Manage set up of new items as well as integration into POS system.
    • Manage open-to-buy to ensure continual flow of merchandise to stores and warehouses with careful attention to advertise events and promotions.
  5. Prepare your retail buyer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your retail 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 retail 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 Retail Buyer Resume templates

    Build a professional Retail 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 Retail Buyer resume.
    Retail Buyer Resume
    Retail Buyer Resume
    Retail Buyer Resume
    Retail Buyer Resume
    Retail Buyer Resume
    Retail Buyer Resume
    Retail Buyer Resume
    Retail Buyer Resume
    Retail Buyer Resume
  6. Apply for retail buyer jobs

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

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

How Did You Land Your First Retail Buyer Job

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Average retail buyer salary

The average Retail Buyer salary in the United States is $52,720 per year or $25 per hour. Retail buyer salaries range between $38,000 and $72,000 per year.

Average Retail Buyer Salary
$52,720 Yearly
$25.35 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do retail buyers rate their job?

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Retail Buyer reviews

profile
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


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Cons

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.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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