Data & Research
 
* ELMI Occupation Profile - Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products *
 
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
(O*NET 13-1023.00, SOC 13-1023)
What they do
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.
 
Also called:
Buyer, Procurement Official, Procurement Specialist, Purchasing Administrator, Purchasing Agent
 
 
Wages
Buyers and Purchasing Agents*
Vermont - 2023
Percentile1HourlyYearly
10% $ 19.50   $40,560  
25% $ 22.74   $47,300  
Median $ 28.22   $58,700  
75% $ 34.33   $71,410  
90% $ 43.13   $89,710  
 
Average $ 29.76   $61,900  
* You're seeing information for "Buyers and Purchasing Agents" because it includes "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products" for which wage information is not available.
1 What are Percentile Wages?
More at CareerOneStop
 
Industries of Employment
Buyers and Purchasing Agents*
United States - 2020
IndustryPercent of total
  • Federal government, excluding postal service
 9%
  • Management of companies and enterprises
 9%
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services
 8%
  • Merchant wholesalers, durable goods
 7%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods
 5%
* You're seeing information for "Buyers and Purchasing Agents" because it includes "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products" for which industries of employment information is not available.
More at BLS
 
Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about:
  • English Language
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Administration and Management
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Customer and Personal Service
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Economics and Accounting
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
More at O*NET
 
Skills
People in this career often have these skills:
  • Negotiation
    Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • Reading Comprehension
    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Active Listening
    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Complex Problem Solving
    Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Speaking
    Talking to others to convey information effectively.
More at O*NET
 
Interests
People in this career often prefer these work environments:
  • Conventional
    Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
  • Enterprising
    Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler
 
Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need:
  • Integrity
    Job requires being honest and ethical.
  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Stress Tolerance
    Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
More at O*NET
 
Tasks
On the job, you would:
  • Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
  • Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
  • Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
  • Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
  • Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
More at O*NET
 
Related Occupations
More at O*NET
 
  
Career Video
Watch at CareerOneStop with transcript or at YouTube.
 
Projected Employment
Buyers and Purchasing Agents*
 Vermont
2020 employment 878
2030 employment 859
Annual percent change
(compounded)		 -0.2%
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations)		 84
* You're seeing information for "Buyers and Purchasing Agents" because it includes "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products" for which projected employment information is not available.
More at Occupational Projections
 
Education and Experience:
Buyers and Purchasing Agents*
  • Typical education needed for entry
    Bachelor's degree
  • Work experience in a related occupation
    None
  • Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
    Moderate-term on-the-job training
* You're seeing information for "Buyers and Purchasing Agents" because it includes "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products" for which education and experience information is not available.
Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications
 
Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
 
  • Physical activity is Somewhat Important
  • Level of activity is Low
Importance
Low   High
Level
Compare Occupations at O*NET
 
Job Zone
Considerable Preparation Needed
  • Specific Vocational Preparation Range
    (7.0 to < 8.0) - A typical worker will require over 2 years up to and including 4 years of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP
 
Education Level
How much education do most people in this career have?
Education level Percent of
U.S. Workers
Doctoral or professional degree
or post-MA certificate		 0%
Master's degree or
post-BA certificate		 9%
Bachelor's degree 78%
Associate's degree 4%
Certificate or some college,
no degree		 0%
High school diploma
or equivalent		 9%
Less than high school diploma 0%
More at O*NET
 
Abilities
People in this career often have talent in:
  • Written Comprehension
    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral Comprehension
    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Deductive Reasoning
    The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
More at O*NET
 
Work Activities
In general, what you might do:
  • Getting Information
    Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Working with Computers
    Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Analyzing Data or Information
    Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
More at O*NET
 
Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day:
  • Purchase products or services.
  • Evaluate applicable laws and regulations to determine impact on organizational activities.
  • Execute sales or other financial transactions.
  • Negotiate contracts with clients or service providers.
  • Analyze business or financial data.
More at O*NET
 
Other Resources
  • CareerOneStop
    resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
  • O*NET Online
    nation's primary source of occupational information
 
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This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
BLS

This page includes information produced in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and State Occupational Projections programs.
 
  
 
 
Vermont.gov State of Vermont Department of Labor