Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products Career, Salary and Skills
No national wage record is published for this occupation in the current BLS dataset.
Occupation description
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 code
13-1023.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Salary data is not available for this occupation in the current BLS dataset.
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Negotiation | 4.25 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Writing | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Persuasion | 3.75 | 4.00 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
Technology
- Choice Job Cost
- Adobe Acrobat
- Apple AppleWorks
- Assured Software JPP
- Construction Management Software ProEst
- Corel QuattroPro
- Cost accounting software
- Cost estimating software
- CPR International GeneralCOST Estimator
- CPR Visual Estimator
- Database reporting software
- Database software
- Dexter + Cheney Spectrum Construction Software
- FileMaker Pro
Related careers
- Customs BrokersNational median $80,730
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersNational median $69,990
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersNational median $87,520
- Brokerage ClerksNational median $65,750
- Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksNational median $59,650
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksNational median $45,260
- Management AnalystsNational median $101,860
- Customer Service RepresentativesNational median $44,770
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.