Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Guiding people or projects, setting direction, taking responsibility, and helping others succeed.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Purchasing Manager, Buyer, or Purchasing Agent
Education
al requirements vary for buyers and purchasing agents, who also receive on-the-job
Training
. Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents typically need a bachelor’s degree, although some employers hire candidates who have a high school diploma. Purchasing managers also need several years of related work experience. Education Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents typically need a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions. However, a high school diploma or the equivalent may be sufficient for some positions. Fields of study vary, but a degree in business, finance, or supply management may be helpful. For positions as a buyer or purchasing agent of farm products, a degree in agriculture, agriculture production, or animal science may be beneficial. Training Buyers and purchasing agents typically get on-the-job training for a few months. During this time, they learn how to perform their basic duties, including monitoring inventory levels and negotiating with suppliers. Work Experience in a Related Occupation Purchasing managers typically need several years of work experience in a related occupation. For example, they might start out as buyers or purchasing agents and advance to a managerial role after gaining experience in procurement.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Some workers may choose to earn optional certification in an area such as procurement or supply chain management. Certification helps to demonstrate that candidates have attained competency in the field. Advancement An experienced purchasing agent or buyer may become an assistant purchasing manager before advancing to purchasing manager or other, related management positions. Purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents with extensive work experience also may advance to become the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for an organization.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Overall employment of purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 53,600 openings for purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents will continue to be needed to help procure goods and services for business operations and for resale to customers. They also will be needed to oversee complex supply chains and to negotiate and manage contracts with suppliers. Organizations continue to automate some procurement tasks and integrate artificial intelligence (AI), making their procurement activities more efficient. In the public sector, employment demand may be impacted by the continued use of cooperative purchasing agreements. These agreements allow government agencies to share resources to buy supplies, which may limit the need for procurement officers. Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents 6% Buyers and purchasing agents 6% Purchasing managers 4% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents Do
Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products. Purchasing managers oversee the work of buyers and purchasing agents and typically handle more complex procurement tasks.
Duties
Purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents typically do the following:
- Evaluate suppliers on the basis of the price, quality, and speed of delivery of their products and services
- Interview vendors and visit suppliers’ plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices
- Attend meetings, trade shows, and conferences to learn about new industry trends and make contacts with suppliers
- Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other information to determine reasonable prices
- Negotiate contracts on behalf of their organization
- Work out agreements with suppliers, such as when products will be delivered
- Meet with staff and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action
- Evaluate and monitor contracts to be sure that vendors and suppliers comply with the terms and conditions of the contract and to determine the need for changes
- Maintain and review records of items bought, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories
Purchasing managers and buying and purchasing agents focus on efficient acquisition of goods or services for their organization.
Purchasing managers plan and coordinate the work of buyers and purchasing agents and hire and train new staff. They also develop their organization’s procurement policies and procedures to help ensure that workers who handle procurement meet ethical standards and avoid potential conflicts of interest.
Buyers and purchasing agents study sales records and inventory levels of current stock, identify suppliers, and keep up to date with changes affecting both the supply of and demand for products and materials. They need to have a working knowledge of the goods or services they are purchasing.
Buyers who purchase items to resell to customers may determine which products their organization will sell. They need to be able to predict what will appeal to their customers.
To assess prospective suppliers’ capabilities, buyers and purchasing agents may visit plants and distribution centers. They enter into contracts with suppliers who meet the organization’s needs and then place orders.
The following are examples of types of buyers and purchasing agents:
Purchasing agents and buyers of farm products buy agricultural products for further processing or resale. Examples of these products are grain, cotton, and tobacco.
Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products buy items for the operation of an organization. Examples of these items are chemicals for a manufacturing plant and industrial equipment, machinery, and office supplies for operating an establishment.
Wholesale and retail buyers purchase goods for resale to consumers. Examples of these goods are clothing and electronics.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Buyers and purchasing agents held about 516,100 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of buyers and purchasing agents were as follows:
| Manufacturing | 22% |
| Wholesale trade | 14 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 13 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8 |
| Retail trade | 7 |
Purchasing managers held about 88,300 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of purchasing managers were as follows:
| Manufacturing | 23% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 18 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 12 |
| Wholesale trade | 11 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 8 |
Most purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents work in an office setting. Travel is sometimes necessary to visit suppliers or review products.
Work Schedules
Most purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. For others, part-time work may be common.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Analytical skills. Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents must evaluate options and choose suppliers with the best combination of price, quality, delivery, or service. Communication skills. Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents must be able to provide clear information both orally and in writing. Decision-making skills. Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents need to make informed and timely choices about the products that they think will sell. Interpersonal skills. Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents must be able to effectively negotiate terms and resolve issues diplomatically. Math skills. Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents must be able to calculate costs and compare prices from different suppliers to ensure that their organization is getting the best deal.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.