what is a buyer?
As a buyer, you might have many different responsibilities ranging from the social to the financial. Your primary duty is to purchase things, but this is a much more involved task than simply browsing catalogs and cutting checks.
If your company needs supplies, for example, you might have a fixed budget to balance against ordering policies and pre-approved vendors. You'll also need to do research to compare and contrast things like price, quality, availability, and delivery. Companies could send you to conferences or trade shows to network with vendors or stay on the cutting edge of new industry tools.
Buyers can also be responsible for purchasing products that are re-sold to consumers. If you become this kind of buyer, you'll be part of a supply chain that extends from manufacturing to marketing, and your job duties could overlap with them as well. For example, you may need to inspect products, negotiate contracts, manage inventory, or conduct market research.
Ultimately, buyers juggle a lot of different responsibilities in the workplace. It's an ideal job for people who thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing environments where no two days are alike. Another bright spot of buyer jobs is that work is available in many different industries, including retail, hospitality, agriculture, government, and manufacturing. If you become a buyer, you can utilize your skills in a variety of settings.
Would working as a buyer suit your skills in negotiation and networking? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a buyer role.
buyer jobs near youaverage buyer salary
Would you like to know what a buyer earns? Where the highest salaries are paid for a buyer? Then check out this salary page and find out all about the salary of a buyer in the USA.
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common buyer salary range
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary range for a buyer is $38,430 - $111,200. This works out to a median range of $75,410 per year. As with all jobs, your pay will depend on a variety of factors, including your location, level of experience, and specific industry.
Most buyers have a salaried position, meaning that you'll earn a fixed amount regardless of the number of hours worked. This is important to note since buyers work full-time and sometimes overtime. However, part-time positions are available under certain circumstances.
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best-paying fields for buyer
Here are the top-paying industries for buyers:
- government
- management
- manufacturing
- wholesale trade
- retail trade
Some buyers clear six figures per year: The median salary for buyers in the management sector is $132,310. Seniority plays a big role in salary, so if you want to make the most money, aim for the top.
Wondering what you can earn as a buyer? Find out immediately with the Randstad salary checker! You can quickly and easily see what the average salary of a buyer is.
types of buyer
As a buyer, you'll work as a procurer at heart. However, you could procure for different reasons and different groups of people.
One type of buyer purchases things for their company. It might be office supplies or raw materials for construction, manufacturing, or farming. "Intangible" goods like software are often under a buyer's purview as well.
Another type of buyer purchases things as part of a supply chain that ultimately leads to customers. If you're this type of buyer, you could purchase food for a grocery store or fabrics for a warehouse that gets turned into clothing.
working as a buyer
With such varied industries and responsibilities, you want to know what it's actually like to work as a buyer on a day-to-day basis. Consider this an overview of buying jobs.
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buyer job description
What does a buyer do? The list is potentially endless:
- research current market trends
- network with vendors, suppliers, and manufacturers
- negotiate contracts for the acquisition of products and services
- manage stock and inventory
- monitor supply chains
- attend conferences and trade shows
- draft and analyze budgets and financial reports
- test products or services for quality control
Your exact duties will depend on your industry, and they could include many other industry-specific tasks. If you're employed by a manufacturing facility, for example, you could research things like OSHA compliance for new tools and machines.
Another thing to consider is your seniority. A senior buyer or purchasing manager is a step above a junior buyer or purchasing agent. As a leader in your department, you'll have heftier responsibilities that can include everything from employee oversight to accountability for risks, budgets, and quality control.
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buyer work environment
As a buyer, you'll do most of your work in an office. However, you should expect to spend time outside of the office as well. A big part of a buying career is networking with vendors, suppliers, manufacturers, and other professionals in your chosen industry. You may need to visit clients, work sites, and more. Part of your duties could include traveling to different cities to attend expos and trade shows as part of market research.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your employer and the industry you work in, your colleagues might include sales representatives, market analysts, accountants, controllers, and project managers. You could work in close proximity to designers, engineers, and others involved in product development. Expect to spend a lot of time with outside clients as well, including vendors and other professionals engaged in supply and sales.
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work schedule
Buyers usually work full-time or 40 hours per week. It isn't uncommon for the job to keep buyers in the office even later. Overtime is normal, especially for senior-level buyers who are coordinating with different departments like finance, sales, and research. You will need a certain amount of flexibility when working with so many others.
You'll also want to consider travel if you're wondering whether a career as a buyer is right for you. Buyers are often required to take business trips for things like product inspections and industry conventions. These can include out-of-city or out-of-state trips.
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job outlook for buyers
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for buyers should decline by 6% in the next 10 years. However, that still leaves an average of 47,400 new openings per year. Some positions will be available because of workers retiring or changing careers. Others would be brand-new buyer positions stemming from newly established offices, companies, warehouses, and industrial facilities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there should be more than 5 million businesses each year, which translates to a lot of buying!
If you're looking for occupations with bigger growth rates, consider alternatives to a career as a buyer. There are many jobs that will utilize similar skills or have you working in similar roles within a company. You could become a project manager, for example, and oversee the development and implementation of buying strategies. You can become a market analyst if you enjoy the research aspect of buying or a financial director if you're good with the money aspect. Other jobs similar to buyers include service managers, business developers, and business consultants.
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benefits of working for randstad as a buyer
Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- being paid weekly
- flexibility
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- many training opportunities
- a range of jobs in your area
Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as a buyer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
buyer skills and education
Speaking very generally, there aren't any requirements to becoming a buyer. There are no laws or regulations surrounding employment. It's possible to find buyer jobs with nothing more than a high school diploma.
In today's competitive job market, however, it helps to stand out from the crowd. You can do this by earning credentials that look great on a resume.
For starters, consider obtaining a bachelor's degree. There are many fields of study that would help you build relevant, real-world skills for buyer jobs. Here are a few good majors for buyers:
- business
- business administration
- finance
- economics
- supply management
To boost your resume even more, consider obtaining a professional certification. You can become a Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) through the American Purchasing Society or Senior Professional in Supply Management (SPSM) through the Next Level Purchasing Association. Other titles include Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB).
Last but not least, on-the-job training is usually provided for buyer jobs. It's very specific to the job at hand. Every company has its own budgets, standards, and policies that you'll need to learn.
skills and competencies
The core competencies of a buyer will vary between industries. A corporate buyer, for example, might need to be well-versed in office supply chains; an industrial buyer may need to know about quality control for heavy machinery.
In a more general sense, however, here are the qualities that employers look for in buyers:
- business acumen
- financial literacy
- personability/social skills
- negotiating skills
- attention to detail
- diligence
FAQs about working as a buyer
Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about buyers.
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are buyers the same things as purchasing agents?
Yes. Buyers are also known as purchasing agents, merchandise managers, and procurement agents or specialists. Despite having different titles, they're usually the same job with the same purpose.
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are there opportunities for advancement as a buyer?
Most buyers start as junior buyers. Over time, however, you could advance to a position as a senior buyer. If your title is purchasing agent, you can climb the ranks to purchasing manager.do I need a degree to become a buyer?
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do I need a degree to become a buyer?
Since there are no rules or regulations surrounding the employment of buyers, you could become a buyer without any credentials at all, including a college degree. However, most modern businesses will expect a bachelor's degree. You can also increase your job prospects with experience, professional training, or industry-specific certifications.
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do I need to be good at math to become a buyer?
Since your job will involve things like price-checking and budget-drafting, you'll probably want to be comfortable working with numbers to be a successful buyer. That said, you don't have to be a math whiz. Modern tools and software can help with the financial aspects of your job.
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Are there part-time buyer jobs?
Working as a buyer is usually a permanent, full-time position. However, you can find temporary buyer jobs under certain circumstances. The same goes for part-time buyer jobs.
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how do I find a job as a buyer?
Applying for a buyer job is easy create a Randstad profile and search our buyer jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state of the art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!
submit your resume
Make sure your resume is up-to-date, including information about your technical skills and certifications. Then share it with us to connect with a recruiter and be matched with job opportunities.
