Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
What they do
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.
Expected pay range
Expected pay range
This represents the median earnings for this career in the selected county or state. In the range shown, 25% of workers earned less than the bottom salary and 25% earned more than the top salary. Data is provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
About purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products
Other titles
Buyer, Procurement Official, Procurement Specialist, Purchasing Administrator, Purchasing Agent
Tasks they perform
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
- Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
Skills they need
- Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Licenses and Certifications
How to decide which one is right? That depends on an individual’s career path, specialty, and resources.
Certifications
Certifications may be available for this career and can help build knowledge and skills in specific job roles. Explore available certifications (external link opens new tab)
Similar careers
View careers in the same field as purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products.
Sales Managers
Logisticians
Better pay
Median salary for this career is higher than the median salary of all careers in the county selected. Salary data is provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
In demand
In demand careers have high-growth, high-demand, and emerging jobs critical to Texas. They are based on economic indicators like in demand industries, labor market trends, and economic conditions, provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
In demand
In demand careers have high-growth, high-demand, and emerging jobs critical to Texas. They are based on economic indicators like in demand industries, labor market trends, and economic conditions, provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Additional career information and resources
Learn more about purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products with these helpful sites.
- American Purchasing Society (external link opens new tab)
- APICS (external link opens new tab)
- Institute for Supply Management (external link opens new tab)
- National Association of Educational Procurement (external link opens new tab)
- National Association of State Procurement Officials (external link opens new tab)
- National Procurement Institute (external link opens new tab)
- NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement (external link opens new tab)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents (external link opens new tab)
- Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (external link opens new tab)