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Buyer Training and Jobs


Schools and Degrees

Educational requirements of buyers vary according to the organization that they work for. Most large stores and distributors prefer to hire buyers who have completed at least a bachelor's degree in a commerce related field. Some manufacturing firms may require the buyers to have additional certifications or degrees in the fields related to the firm, such as, applied sciences, engineering, economics, and business. In order to reach the top levels in the field, a master's degree is essential. Additionally, certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) are extremely helpful in ascending ranks quickly.

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Training and Education

Expect to get long-term on-the-job training for this occupation. The share of buyers with a bachelor's degree or higher is 42%. About 36% of workers got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. There was no need to go beyond high school for 22% of employees.


Job Overview

Buyers, often called purchasing agents, buy items for a living. They work for a specific organization, purchasing goods or services the organization requires. These goods are then used by the organization, or resold to third party customers. Buyers can be either retail buyers or wholesale buyers. Both types of buyers purchase goods such as clothing, food, electronics, stationery, and other similar items. The only difference is that retail buyers purchase goods in small quantities, as per requirements, while wholesale buyers always purchase goods in bulk.


Job Requirements

Qualified buyers need to complete training programs, which can last for any length of time between 1 to 5 years. During this time, they have to report to experienced buyers and have to learn how commodities are handled, prices are negotiated, market fluctuations are predicted, and so on. Trainee buyers usually start off by working as sellers of merchandise, and supervisors of sales workers. They also have to update records of remaining stocks of goods, and have to check and record invoices of goods received or purchased. As they gain experience, they are assigned additional duties, along with considerable increase in salary figures.

Buyers have to be proficient with word processing and spreadsheet software, and must be able to use the Internet to look up information about market rates, find out about new suppliers entering the market, and keep tabs on competitors. They must also be able to analyze business data pertaining to proposals made by suppliers. Good communication skills along with strong knowledge of mathematics, and accountancy, are a must. Buyers must also have a clear idea about the functioning of supply chains, and be able to analyze financial operations of a company. Experienced buyers may ascend to the levels of merchandise manager, or other managerial professionals. They may also switch careers to become sales personnel for manufacturers, or even start their own business as independent wholesalers.


Nature of Work

Buyers have to purchase goods in either wholesale or retail basis, for the organization where they are employed. It is their job to make sure that only goods of the best quality are purchased, and at reasonable prices. In order to be successful in their line of work, buyers should acquire good technical knowledge about the goods and services that they buy. Buyers often have to work for more than 40 hours every week, in order to meet production deadlines and special sales programs. They usually work in comfortable office environments, but some projects may require them to travel to wholesale markets and independent retailers, in order to get the best price for goods that they purchase.


Area Job Conditions

Huntsville (Alabama), Warner Robins (Georgia), and Pascagoula (Mississippi) boast the most buyers for their size population. Monroe (Louisiana), Laredo (Texas), and McAllen (Texas) have the fewest.

The highest salaries for workers are in and around Washington (District of Columbia), Huntsville (Alabama), and Albany (Georgia). The lowest-paying areas are St. George (Utah), Morristown (Tennessee), and Hattiesburg (Mississippi).


Part-Time and Self Employment

It is estimated that 4% of buyers work less than full time. Self-employment is the choice of 2% of workers.


Buyers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anniston $61,000 120 +40%
Auburn $53,000 90 +8%
Birmingham $54,000 800 -25%
Decatur $52,000 110 +8%
Dothan $48,000 70 -38%
Florence $50,000 80 -19%
Gadsden $45,000 40 -37%
Huntsville $74,000 1,950 +347%
Mobile $52,000 410 +12%
Montgomery $55,000 440 +30%
Tuscaloosa $50,000 130 -28%

Alaska

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anchorage $66,000 440 +26%
Fairbanks $56,000 60 +3%

Arizona

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Flagstaff $51,000 100 -7%
Kingman $49,000 100 +12%
Phoenix $56,000 4,310 +12%
Prescott $45,000 90 -13%
Tucson $54,000 810 +11%
Yuma $51,000 130 +22%

Arkansas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Fayetteville $52,000 240 -44%
Fort Smith $50,000 130 -48%
Hot Springs $47,000 40 -40%
Jonesboro $41,000 50 -43%
Little Rock $51,000 580 -22%
Pine Bluff $66,000 40 -27%

California

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bakersfield $68,000 480 -13%
Chico $51,000 80 -41%
El Centro $58,000 40 -58%
Fresno $54,000 360 -47%
Hanford $59,000 40 -36%
Los Angeles $63,000 8,510 -4%
Madera $57,000 60 +4%
Merced $53,000 50 -54%
Modesto $47,000 230 -28%
Napa $53,000 110 -10%
Oakland $68,000 2,160 -1%
Oxnard $63,000 710 +12%
Redding $57,000 40 -65%
Riverside $55,000 1,920 -27%
Sacramento $62,000 1,370 -27%
Salinas $66,000 200 -40%
San Diego $66,000 3,450 +21%
San Francisco $73,000 1,670 -23%
San Jose $72,000 2,910 +49%
San Luis Obispo $62,000 110 -41%
Santa Ana $63,000 3,500 +11%
Santa Barbara $62,000 360 +3%
Santa Cruz $56,000 100 -42%
Santa Rosa $59,000 240 -34%
Stockton $61,000 260 -41%
Vallejo $72,000 220 -10%
Visalia $51,000 130 -53%
Yuba City $63,000 50 -29%

Colorado

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Boulder $71,000 540 +70%
Colorado Springs $64,000 840 +57%
Denver $64,000 3,380 +24%
Fort Collins $68,000 240 -7%
Grand Junction $52,000 70 -36%
Greeley $58,000 150 +5%
Pueblo $54,000 90 -18%

Connecticut

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bridgeport $68,000 1,070 +17%
Danbury $67,000 140 +5%
Hartford $65,000 1,290 +4%
New Haven $63,000 460 -21%
Norwich $68,000 330 +32%
Waterbury $55,000 80 -40%

Delaware

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Dover $57,000 90 -8%
Wilmington $71,000 570 -18%

District of Columbia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Washington $79,000 9,280 +75%

Florida

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Cape Coral $54,000 190 -53%
Deltona $45,000 170 -47%
Fort Lauderdale $54,000 1,130 -25%
Fort Walton Beach $65,000 390 +159%
Gainesville $45,000 180 -28%
Jacksonville $58,000 1,020 -22%
Lakeland $47,000 260 -34%
Miami $56,000 1,880 -12%
Naples $53,000 130 -43%
Ocala $46,000 140 -20%
Orlando $55,000 1,920 -13%
Palm Bay $60,000 930 +124%
Panama City $61,000 160 +19%
Pensacola $54,000 200 -35%
Port St Lucie $47,000 180 -26%
Punta Gorda $47,000 50 -31%
Sarasota $48,000 310 -41%
Sebastian $52,000 60 -33%
Tallahassee $45,000 290 -13%
Tampa $56,000 2,200 -12%
West Palm Beach $58,000 990 -12%

Georgia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Albany $59,000 90 -25%
Athens $57,000 80 -43%
Atlanta $60,000 3,920 -22%
Augusta $64,000 340 -21%
Brunswick $62,000 60 -21%
Columbus $55,000 140 -38%
Dalton $50,000 100 -25%
Gainesville $52,000 100 -27%
Hinesville $61,000 40 +79%
Macon $50,000 110 -39%
Rome $62,000 40 -38%
Savannah $61,000 410 +33%
Valdosta $51,000 50 -47%
Warner Robins $71,000 450 +340%

Hawaii

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Honolulu $59,000 820 -13%

Idaho

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Boise $51,000 420 -24%
Coeur Dalene $49,000 70 -27%
Idaho Falls $60,000 70 -21%
Pocatello $58,000 30 -45%

Illinois

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Champaign $54,000 140 -32%
Chicago $61,000 5,940 -28%
Decatur $55,000 70 -18%
Kankakee $54,000 40 -48%
Peoria $55,000 220 -38%
Rockford $49,000 270 -7%
Springfield $55,000 150 -31%

Indiana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anderson $49,000 40 -43%
Bloomington $62,000 90 -34%
Columbus $58,000 140 +99%
Elkhart $52,000 440 +101%
Evansville $52,000 270 -24%
Fort Wayne $51,000 450 +5%
Gary $62,000 310 -46%
Indianapolis $56,000 1,780 -9%
Kokomo $68,000 90 +25%
Lafayette $55,000 140 -6%
Michigan City $57,000 70 -8%
Muncie $59,000 50 -42%
South Bend $53,000 220 -17%
Terre Haute $51,000 90 -32%

Iowa

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Ames $53,000 70 +2%
Cedar Rapids $52,000 280 -2%
Davenport $66,000 990 +153%
Des Moines $52,000 530 -25%
Dubuque 100 -2%
Iowa City $54,000 130 -6%
Sioux City $47,000 140 -2%
Waterloo $58,000 200 +17%

Kansas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lawrence $56,000 60 -26%
Manhattan $50,000 110 +11%
Topeka $54,000 150 -33%
Wichita $59,000 1,150 +87%

Kentucky

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bowling Green $48,000 70 -34%
Elizabethtown $60,000 130 +56%
Lexington $55,000 530 +4%
Louisville $57,000 1,040 -21%
Owensboro $47,000 110 +23%

Louisiana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Alexandria $53,000 110 -12%
Baton Rouge $53,000 560 -30%
Houma $45,000 280 +47%
Lafayette $51,000 290 -2%
Lake Charles $50,000 120 -32%
Monroe $49,000 70 -54%
New Orleans $54,000 830 -27%
Shreveport $54,000 280 -25%

Maine

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bangor $45,000 60 -49%
Lewiston $49,000 60 -37%
Portland $54,000 230 -45%

Maryland

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Baltimore $64,000 2,860 +0%
Bethesda $73,000 2,060 +65%
Cumberland $56,000 80 +18%
Hagerstown $57,000 90 -54%
Salisbury $51,000 60 -41%

Massachusetts

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Barnstable Town $66,000 60 -70%
Boston $72,000 3,550 -6%
Brockton $62,000 130 -28%
Framingham $67,000 640 +88%
Haverhill $54,000 170 +4%
Lawrence $64,000 120 +4%
Leominster $61,000 60 -36%
Lowell $69,000 370 +51%
New Bedford $55,000 60 -52%
Peabody $76,000 240 +17%
Pittsfield $57,000 110 +87%
Springfield $65,000 670 +5%
Taunton $72,000 100 +19%
Worcester $59,000 400 -25%

Michigan

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Ann Arbor $59,000 420 +20%
Battle Creek $60,000 150 +52%
Bay City $49,000 30 -49%
Detroit $71,000 2,110 +45%
Flint $54,000 170 -36%
Grand Rapids $56,000 1,410 +74%
Holland $55,000 310 +60%
Jackson $69,000 100 +9%
Kalamazoo $53,000 310 +11%
Lansing $58,000 330 -21%
Monroe $56,000 60 -11%
Muskegon $48,000 150 +40%
Niles $55,000 250 +124%
Saginaw $62,000 150 -8%
Warren $70,000 3,650 +55%

Minnesota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Duluth $57,000 190 -29%
Mankato $49,000 90 -17%
Minneapolis $61,000 4,410 +13%
Rochester $63,000 170 -18%
St Cloud $52,000 160 -17%

Mississippi

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Gulfport $56,000 270 +24%
Hattiesburg $40,000 60 -46%
Jackson $45,000 360 -33%
Pascagoula $52,000 150 +72%

Missouri

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Cape Girardeau $46,000 60 -28%
Columbia $52,000 90 -43%
Jefferson City $46,000 200 +37%
Joplin $38,000 130 -17%
Kansas City $53,000 3,420 +55%
Springfield $45,000 250 -38%
St Joseph $49,000 100 +3%
St Louis $61,000 3,310 +14%

Montana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Billings $56,000 80 -52%
Great Falls $53,000 40 -41%
Missoula $57,000 60 -40%

Nebraska

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lincoln $51,000 280 -16%
Omaha $56,000 790 -22%

Nevada

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Carson City $54,000 70 +52%
Las Vegas $56,000 1,030 -44%
Reno $52,000 280 -30%

New Hampshire

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Manchester $57,000 210 +0%
Nashua $64,000 440 +55%
Portsmouth $63,000 100 -10%
Rochester $53,000 120 +17%

New Jersey

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Atlantic City $66,000 130 -57%
Camden $62,000 850 -25%
Edison $74,000 1,860 -17%
Newark $69,000 1,770 -19%
Trenton $67,000 400 -17%
Vineland $57,000 70 -40%

New Mexico

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Albuquerque $66,000 760 -8%
Farmington $46,000 40 -57%
Las Cruces $57,000 90 -28%
Santa Fe $47,000 130 +8%

New York

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Albany $56,000 860 -12%
Binghamton $61,000 340 +48%
Buffalo $54,000 980 -18%
Elmira $59,000 100 +42%
Glens Falls $59,000 60 -40%
Ithaca $49,000 60 -21%
Kingston $45,000 90 -23%
Nassau $65,000 1,940 -30%
New York $64,000 7,180 -37%
Poughkeepsie $68,000 410 -22%
Rochester $57,000 1,160 +6%
Syracuse $58,000 540 -19%
Utica $57,000 190 -26%

North Carolina

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Asheville $48,000 300 -19%
Burlington $52,000 90 -18%
Charlotte $57,000 1,470 -21%
Durham $68,000 650 +10%
Fayetteville $58,000 220 -15%
Goldsboro $51,000 80 +6%
Greensboro $56,000 730 -5%
Greenville $51,000 80 -40%
Hickory $48,000 280 -8%
Jacksonville $56,000 90 +13%
Raleigh $59,000 910 -19%
Rocky Mount $53,000 80 -28%
Wilmington $60,000 170 -40%
Winston Salem $57,000 390 -12%

North Dakota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bismarck $57,000 60 -53%
Fargo $56,000 210 -16%
Grand Forks $52,000 40 -56%

Ohio

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Akron $56,000 700 +2%
Canton $49,000 250 -28%
Cincinnati $58,000 1,960 -11%
Cleveland $56,000 2,210 -1%
Columbus $60,000 2,760 +38%
Dayton $71,000 1,720 +109%
Lima $55,000 100 +0%
Mansfield $44,000 80 -19%
Sandusky $51,000 70 +10%
Springfield $54,000 70 -23%
Steubenville $41,000 40 -48%
Toledo $56,000 420 -33%
Youngstown $47,000 320 -33%

Oklahoma

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lawton $46,000 80 +5%
Oklahoma City $59,000 1,420 +13%
Tulsa $55,000 1,180 +27%

Oregon

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bend $52,000 80 -35%
Corvallis $53,000 80 +67%
Eugene $46,000 180 -38%
Medford $46,000 100 -35%
Portland $57,000 2,210 -1%
Salem $52,000 320 +3%

Pennsylvania

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Allentown $64,000 770 +4%
Altoona $49,000 100 -15%
Erie $50,000 390 +48%
Harrisburg $60,000 830 +21%
Johnstown $52,000 120 +11%
Lancaster $52,000 430 -14%
Lebanon $53,000 90 +5%
Philadelphia $64,000 5,430 +30%
Pittsburgh $57,000 2,520 +1%
Reading $57,000 310 -11%
Scranton $48,000 320 -42%
State College $48,000 110 -10%
Williamsport $48,000 140 +42%
York $57,000 490 +33%

Rhode Island

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Providence $60,000 970 -20%

South Carolina

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anderson $57,000 90 -17%
Charleston $62,000 530 -14%
Columbia $51,000 640 -15%
Florence $54,000 110 -30%
Greenville $59,000 600 -6%
Myrtle Beach $43,000 90 -59%
Spartanburg $57,000 180 -24%
Sumter $56,000 60 +1%

South Dakota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Rapid City $51,000 80 -36%
Sioux Falls $49,000 230 -20%

Tennessee

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Chattanooga $52,000 390 -19%
Clarksville $58,000 140 -10%
Cleveland $44,000 50 -20%
Jackson $41,000 100 -12%
Johnson City $41,000 120 -15%
Kingsport $49,000 160 -36%
Knoxville $59,000 610 -15%
Memphis $53,000 930 -30%
Morristown $40,000 40 -54%
Nashville $57,000 1,080 -33%

Texas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Abilene $45,000 80 -35%
Amarillo $53,000 140 -35%
Austin $60,000 2,530 +48%
Beaumont $59,000 280 -17%
Brownsville $46,000 100 -63%
College Station $52,000 130 -30%
Corpus Christi $58,000 240 -36%
Dallas $63,000 5,130 +12%
El Paso $51,000 450 -23%
Fort Worth $59,000 2,270 +21%
Houston $63,000 6,940 +21%
Killeen $58,000 210 -21%
Laredo $49,000 50 -68%
Longview $47,000 180 -6%
Lubbock $51,000 110 -57%
Mcallen $41,000 140 -71%
Midland $67,000 120 -2%
Odessa $48,000 80 -27%
San Angelo $48,000 70 -9%
San Antonio $64,000 2,220 +17%
Sherman $43,000 40 -48%
Texarkana $55,000 60 -42%
Tyler $57,000 140 -23%
Victoria $52,000 80 -12%
Waco $53,000 250 +24%
Wichita Falls $49,000 110 +3%

Utah

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Logan $49,000 70 -22%
Ogden $68,000 680 +62%
Provo $53,000 250 -30%
Salt Lake City $53,000 1,110 -16%
St George $37,000 50 -42%

Vermont

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Burlington $55,000 260 +14%

Virginia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Blacksburg $51,000 170 +44%
Charlottesville $54,000 170 -2%
Danville $58,000 50 -21%
Harrisonburg $51,000 100 -7%
Lynchburg $55,000 200 +0%
Richmond $62,000 2,250 +69%
Roanoke $45,000 270 -17%
Virginia Beach $62,000 2,320 +41%
Winchester $82,000 190 +101%

Washington

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bellingham $52,000 140 -4%
Bremerton $65,000 240 +45%
Kennewick $70,000 370 +83%
Longview $54,000 70 +17%
Mount Vernon $52,000 60 -28%
Olympia $56,000 380 +90%
Seattle $66,000 5,010 +64%
Spokane $47,000 460 +6%
Tacoma $55,000 540 -4%
Wenatchee $51,000 50 -30%
Yakima $51,000 100 -40%

West Virginia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Charleston $52,000 150 -50%
Huntington $48,000 180 -22%
Morgantown $58,000 80 -21%
Parkersburg $62,000 140 +5%
Wheeling $48,000 50 -61%

Wisconsin

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Appleton $53,000 210 -10%
Eau Claire $49,000 160 +10%
Fond $61,000 130 +63%
Green Bay $54,000 570 +62%
Janesville $53,000 100 -19%
La Crosse $48,000 130 -8%
Madison $55,000 790 +9%
Milwaukee $55,000 2,140 +18%
Oshkosh $50,000 380 +116%
Racine $53,000 190 +29%
Sheboygan $52,000 140 +30%
Wausau $47,000 160 +24%

Wyoming

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Casper $52,000 60 -10%
Cheyenne $53,000 100 +26%
*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Purchasing Agents schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.