Occupations · Business and Financial Operations

Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 13-1023.00

Pay over time

Median up 36% between 2003 and 2016, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Reading Comprehension4.1

Speaking4.0

Writing4.0

Active Listening4.0

Active Learning3.9

Critical Thinking3.9

Monitoring3.8

Learning Strategies3.0

Mathematics3.0

Science1.1

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Acrobat●Google Docs●Intuit QuickBooks●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft SharePoint●Microsoft Visio●Microsoft Word●Oracle Database●Oracle PeopleSoft●Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management●SAP software●Apple AppleWorksAssured Software JPPCPR International GeneralCOST EstimatorCPR Visual EstimatorChoice Job CostConstruction Management Software ProEstCorel QuattroProCost accounting softwareCost estimating softwareDatabase reporting softwareDatabase softwareDexter + Cheney Spectrum Construction Software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Spend Time Sitting+1.3 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.2 below average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.1 below average

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable−1.1 below average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

Written Letters and Memos+1.0 above average

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment−1.0 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2025-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree65%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)15%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)10%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.10%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2025-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Conventional5.7

Enterprising5.1

Realistic3.5

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Negotiation4.2

Complex Problem Solving4.0

Judgment and Decision Making3.9

Persuasion3.8

Management of Financial Resources3.8

Instructing3.2

Social Perceptiveness3.2

Time Management3.2

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

English LanguageLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementAdministrativeMathematics

Abilities it leans on

Written ComprehensionOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionWritten ExpressionInductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

BuyerLog BuyerPurchaserOre BuyerFuel AgentFuel BuyerPrint BuyerMedia BuyerTimber BuyerLumber BuyerPrice AnalystPulpwood BuyerPurchasing AgentContractor Buyer

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 7 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 16

+Oracle E-Business Suite Financials+MicroStrategy+Google Ads+SAP Business Objects+Database software+Adobe Acrobat+Oracle PeopleSoft Financials+Google Docs+SmugMug Flickr+Software AG enterprise software+IBM Cognos Impromptu+Oracle Database+Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management+NetSuite ERP

No longer listed 6

−Accounting software−National Job Cost software−Software AG software−Microsoft Great Plains software−Cost estimation software−Financial analysis software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

BuyerJobberLeaserPurchaserOre BuyerLog BuyerFuel AgentFuel BuyerJourneymanPlant BuyerPrint BuyerMedia Buyer

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
purchaser	3323.2	exact
leather raw materials purchasing manager	1324.3.4.2.1	close
purchasing manager	1324.3.4.2	close
ICT buyer	3323.2.2	broader
set buyer	3323.3	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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