What Do Purchasing Agents Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for purchasing agents?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what purchasing agents do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Purchasing Agents Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about purchasing agents by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Purchasing Agents purchase farm products either for further processing or resale. Includes tree farm contractors, grain brokers and market operators, grain buyers, and tobacco buyers. May negotiate contracts. Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods. Analyze past buying trends, sales records, price, and quality of merchandise to determine value and yield. Select, order, and authorize payment for merchandise according to contractual agreements. May conduct meetings with sales personnel and introduce new products. May negotiate contracts. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm 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.
Popular Job Titles For Purchasing Agents
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Buyers
- Contract Administrators
- Contract Specialists
- Procurement Specialists
- Purchasing Agents
- Proposal Managers
- Contracts Managers
- Procurement Analysts
- Purchasing Coordinators
- Buyers/Planners
- Purchasing Specialists
- Contract Analysts
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for purchasing agents can be found.
Best Industries for Purchasing Agents
Purchasing Agents Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 8.9%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 8.4%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 2.9%
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing: 2.8%
- Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers: 1.9%
- Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers: 1.9%
- Other: 73.2%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of purchasing agents can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 8.9% of all jobs for purchasing agents were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (8.4%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (2.9%), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (2.8%), Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (1.9%) and Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers (1.9%).
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Degree Options for Purchasing Agents
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What Do Purchasing Agents Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what purchasing agents do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work purchasing agents do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that purchasing agents tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for purchasing agents, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Purchasing Agents
Based on 175,858 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Purchasing Agents
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing | 73,332 | 42% |
| Procurement | 73,015 | 42% |
| Contract Management | 32,834 | 19% |
| Project Management | 28,923 | 16% |
| Finance | 28,917 | 16% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Purchasing Agents
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 81,906 | 47% |
| Management | 73,322 | 42% |
| Negotiation | 51,048 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 46,931 | 27% |
| Detail Oriented | 40,962 | 23% |
Based on 175,858 job postings related to purchasing agents, purchasing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 42% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for procurement, contract management, project management, finance and supply chain were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for purchasing agents, followed by management, negotiation, microsoft excel, detail oriented and microsoft office.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Purchasing | 73,332 | 42% |
| Procurement | 73,015 | 42% |
| Contract Management | 32,834 | 19% |
| Project Management | 28,923 | 16% |
| Finance | 28,917 | 16% |
| Supply Chain | 27,431 | 16% |
| Invoicing | 26,133 | 15% |
| Request For Proposal | 26,006 | 15% |
| Accounting | 25,074 | 14% |
| Auditing | 18,860 | 11% |
| Marketing | 17,884 | 10% |
| Contract Negotiation | 15,384 | 9% |
| Subcontracting | 13,827 | 8% |
| SAP Applications | 13,044 | 7% |
| Supply Chain Management | 12,902 | 7% |
| Process Improvement | 12,181 | 7% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 11,148 | 6% |
| Supplier Performance Management | 10,996 | 6% |
| Inventory Management | 10,201 | 6% |
| Data Analysis | 9,972 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 81,906 | 47% |
| Management | 73,322 | 42% |
| Negotiation | 51,048 | 29% |
| Microsoft Excel | 46,931 | 27% |
| Detail Oriented | 40,962 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 39,885 | 23% |
| Operations | 38,216 | 22% |
| Customer Service | 36,905 | 21% |
| Writing | 36,381 | 21% |
| Sales | 34,723 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 34,154 | 19% |
| Research | 31,055 | 18% |
| Planning | 30,958 | 18% |
| Leadership | 30,378 | 17% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 26,646 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 24,824 | 14% |
| Organizational Skills | 23,523 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 23,004 | 13% |
| Self-Motivation | 20,270 | 12% |
| Time Management | 19,592 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Purchasing Agents
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers | 35,561 | 19.6% |
| Contract Administrators | 20,449 | 11.3% |
| Contract Specialists | 15,331 | 8.5% |
| Procurement Specialists | 15,350 | 8.5% |
| Purchasing Agents | 16,736 | 9.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was buyers, with 14,044 unique job postings. Contract administrators were second, with 6,589 postings, followed by contract specialists, procurement specialists and purchasing agents.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to purchasing agents.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers | 35,561 | 19.6% |
| Contract Administrators | 20,449 | 11.3% |
| Contract Specialists | 15,331 | 8.5% |
| Procurement Specialists | 15,350 | 8.5% |
| Purchasing Agents | 16,736 | 9.2% |
| Proposal Managers | 8,738 | 4.8% |
| Contracts Managers | 8,091 | 4.5% |
| Procurement Analysts | 6,280 | 3.5% |
| Purchasing Coordinators | 5,660 | 3.1% |
| Buyers/Planners | 5,062 | 2.8% |
| Purchasing Specialists | 5,309 | 2.9% |
| Contract Analysts | 5,668 | 3.1% |
| Lead Subcontracts Administrators | 4,938 | 2.7% |
| Energy Consultants | 6,629 | 3.7% |
| Sourcing Specialists | 4,443 | 2.5% |
| Proposal Specialists | 3,780 | 2.1% |
| Subcontract Administrators | 4,459 | 2.5% |
| Contract Managers | 3,064 | 1.7% |
| Marketing and Proposal Specialists | 1,981 | 1.1% |
| Vehicle Acquisition Managers | 3,563 | 2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for purchasing agents? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for purchasing agents.
How much do purchasing agents make?
Purchasing Agents: How do you become one?
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