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Purchasing Managers

General Information

Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit73.60%
  2. State and local government9.61%
  3. Private, not for profit7.32%
  4. Federal government7.12%
  5. Self-employed2.33%

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

Industry areas

  • Business Management & Administration

Job Outlook

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
-6%
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Job Outlook

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Overall employment of purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents is projected to decline 6 percent from 2022 to 2032. Despite declining employment, about 45,000 openings for purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Related Military Careers

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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$131,350

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$57,040
$166,660
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 52%
  • Post-secondary certificate 15%
  • Master's degree 10%
  • Associate's degree 10%
  • High school 5%
  • Some college 5%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Enterprising — You have an interest in managing, negotiating and marketing, or leading and advising others.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

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

Knowledge

  • Administrative
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administration and Management
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Personnel and Human Resources

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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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.