CFChooseField
Business and Finance

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
Download graphic

Preparation level

Job Zone 4
Usually requires considerable preparation, commonly a bachelor's degree and related experience.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
View source ↗

Leading skill

Reading Comprehension
A highly important skill for Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
View source ↗

Core knowledge

English Language
A leading knowledge area used in Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
View source ↗

Career interest

Conventional
One of the strongest interest themes associated with this work.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
View source ↗

Typical work activity

Getting Information
One of the occupation's most important kinds of work.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
View source ↗

Day-to-day work

10 examples
Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
View source ↗

Software and tools

12 tools listed
Examples: Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint. 7 are marked in demand.
O*NET 30.3 Database · 2026
View source ↗
O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Reading Comprehension
  2. 2Active Listening
  3. 3Speaking
  4. 4Writing
  5. 5Active Learning
  6. 6Critical Thinking

Knowledge areas

  1. 1English Language
  2. 2Law and Government
  3. 3Customer and Personal Service
  4. 4Administration and Management
  5. 5Administrative
  6. 6Mathematics

Abilities

  1. 1Written Comprehension
  2. 2Inductive Reasoning
  3. 3Oral Comprehension
  4. 4Oral Expression
  5. 5Written Expression
  6. 6Deductive Reasoning

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Enterprising
  3. 3Realistic
  4. 4Social
  5. 5Investigative
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Integrity
  4. 4Self-Confidence
  5. 5Achievement Orientation
  6. 6Perseverance

Work activities

  1. 1Getting Information
  2. 2Communicating with People Outside the Organization
  3. 3Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  4. 4Working with Computers
  5. 5Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  6. 6Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Telephone Conversations
  3. 3Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  6. 6Spend Time Sitting

Representative tasks

  • 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandSAP software · in demandMicrosoft SharePoint · in demandMicrosoft Word · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Access · hot technologyMicrosoft Project · hot technologyIntuit QuickBooks · hot technologyMicrosoft Visio · hot technologyOracle Database · hot technology

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.