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Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

General Information

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.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit74.29%
  2. State and local government8.49%
  3. Federal government7.60%
  4. Private, not for profit5.93%
  5. Self-employed3.48%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Similar Careers

Related Military Careers

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Salary

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Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 78%
  • High school 8%
  • Post baccalaureate 8%
  • Associate's degree 4%
  • Some college 0%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%
  • Post-secondary certificate 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administrative
  • Administration and Management
  • Mathematics
  • Computers and Electronics

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.