Buyer

Print

Work Tasks

BUYERS buy items for resale. They try to get the best quality goods at the least cost for their employers. They decide what to buy and from whom, and negotiate the lowest price. They award contracts to make sure the right amount of items or service is received at the proper time. Using computers, buyers study sales records and levels of current stock, identify foreign and domestic suppliers, and keep up with changes affecting the supply and demand for products. They rate suppliers based upon price, quality, service support, availability, reliability, and selection. They must be able to assess the resale value of goods and comply with purchasing laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, etc.

Salary, Size & Growth

• $58,500 average per year ($28.00 per hour)
• A medium occupation (108,200 workers in 2010)
• Expected to decline (0.2% per year)

Entry Requirements

Educational requirements for BUYERS tend to vary with the size of the organization. Large stores and distributors, especially those in the wholesale and retail trade, prefer applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree program with a business emphasis. Many manufacturing firms prefer applicants with a bachelor's or master's degree in business, economics, or technical training such as engineering or one of the applied sciences and tend to put a greater emphasis on formal training.