Occupations · Business and Financial Operations

Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products

Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. May negotiate contracts. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 13-1022.00

Pay over time

Median up 26% 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.

Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.
Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased.
Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.
Provide clerks with information to print on price tags, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, or style number.
Recommend mark-up rates, mark-down rates, or merchandise selling prices.
Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.
Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate consumer buying patterns, company sales, and needed inventory.
Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
Train or supervise sales or clerical staff.
Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Speaking3.8

Critical Thinking3.8

Active Listening3.8

Active Learning3.4

Reading Comprehension3.2

Mathematics3.1

Monitoring3.1

Writing3.0

Learning Strategies2.9

Science1.8

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

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

Eclipse IDE●Facebook●Intuit QuickBooks●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft SharePoint●Microsoft Windows●Microsoft Word●Oracle Database●Oracle PeopleSoft●SAP software●Advanced Retail Management Systems Retail ProApplicant tracking softwareBiztrak Business Solutions BiztrakCAM Commerce Solutions Retail STAR Point of Sale POSClaritas ConsumerPointContact management softwareEmail softwareEnterprise risk management software ERMSGraphics softwareInfor Supply Chain ManagementInventory control systemsJDA Software Group Advanced Warehouse Replenishment by E3JDA Software Group Assortment Planning by Arthur

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.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.5 below average

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

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled+1.1 above average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions−1.0 below average

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions−1.0 below average

Telephone Conversations+0.9 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2015-07

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree35%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)20%

Less than a High School Diploma14%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)11%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2015-07

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Enterprising5.2

Conventional5.2

Realistic3.4

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Negotiation4.0

Persuasion3.8

Judgment and Decision Making3.4

Social Perceptiveness3.2

Management of Financial Resources3.2

Complex Problem Solving3.2

Coordination3.1

Service Orientation3.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Sales and MarketingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageMathematicsAdministration and ManagementComputers and Electronics

Abilities it leans on

Oral ExpressionOral ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningWritten ComprehensionSpeech ClarityProblem Sensitivity

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.

BuyerTraderPlannerExporterPurveyorMerchantPurchaserTradesmanFur BuyerTie BuyerArt DealerGold BuyerPrint BuyerRetail 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. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 13

+LinkedIn+Facebook+Microsoft SharePoint+Microsoft Windows+SAP software+Purchasing software+Oracle PeopleSoft+Applicant tracking software+Qlik Tech QlikView+Oracle Database+Materials requirement planning MRP software+Oracle Taleo+Eclipse IDE

No longer listed 9

−Material requirement planning MRP software−Accounting software−Point of sale POS software−Enterprise resource planning ERP software−Eclipse software−Word processing software−Spreadsheet software−Presentation software−Project management 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

BuyerTraderJobberPlannerExporterPurveyorMerchantImporterFur BuyerTie BuyerTradesmanPurchaser

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

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