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Purchasing Agents
Other names for this job might include Area Field Person, Area Field Worker, Buyer, Contract Analyst, Contract Specialist, Contractor Buyer, Contracts Administrator, Contracts Manager, Equipment, Supplies, and Tools Purchasing Agent, Food Broker
- $66120Salary
- 65%Job satisfaction
- Quite HardBecoming one
- LowJob growth
C+
Purchasing Agents: Know It All In 1 Minute
Table of Contents
In this career summary, you will find out what the job of A Purchasing Agent is about and what it is like.
After reading this, you will have a good idea on what the job is about and decide if this is the right career for you.
Job description
Purchasing Agents purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semi-finished materials for manufacturing.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
- Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
- Research and evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier’s reputation and history.
Become one
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Purchasing Agents with little to no experience tend to make between $37850 and $47620 while the more experienced ones make over $80870 per year.
| Top 5 paying states | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| DC | $43.49 | $90460 |
| MD | $37.21 | $77400 |
| NJ | $36.95 | $76850 |
| VA | $36.29 | $75480 |
| AK | $35.41 | $73650 |
1 of the easiest ways to increase your salary as A Purchasing Agent is to move to a higher paying state like DC. Right now, the highest paying states for Purchasing Agents are DC, MD, NJ, VA and AK.
However a higher pay at DC doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DC might be 2x higher than where you are currently at now.
3 other factors that can increase your salary as A Purchasing Agent is the degree you hold, the industry you work in and lastly the company you work for (bigger companies like the Fortune 500 companies tend to pay more).
Requirements
We asked other Purchasing Agents what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Bachelors degree followed by Certificate.
Other than that we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.
| Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General |
| General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other |
Another popular question from our readers is what makes A Purchasing Agent successful or would they be good in this career.
Well, we found that most successful Purchasing Agents have these 5 skillsets.
| Reading Comprehension |
| Active Listening |
| Speaking |
| Critical Thinking |
| Writing |
In addition to that, 1 common characteristic among successful Purchasing Agents is they are good at Integrity. Here are the top 5 common characteristics.
| Integrity |
| Attention to Detail |
| Dependability |
| Initiative |
| Cooperation |
Pros and Cons
Here are some reasons why you should and shouldn’t choose A Purchasing Agent as your career.
| PROS |
|---|
| Suitable for people who likes to follow routines |
| Suitable for people who wants job security and a good working condition |
| This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors. |
| Very good salary |
| CONS |
|---|
| Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs |
| It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of workrelated skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career. |
| Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week) |
There will be pros and cons for all jobs. The point is how much do the pros outweigh the cons to you.
A pro to you might be a con to Bob. A pro to Bob might be a con to you. We suggest reading about this career framework that can help you to find out what type of careers are right for you.
What is the job like
On a normal working week Purchasing Agents work More than 40 hours per week.
65% of Purchasing Agents said they were satisfied with their job and 43% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.
Is this right for me
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
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Related to Purchasing Agents Career Information
Purchasing Agents job description, Purchasing Agents salary, Purchasing Agents information, what is the job of a Purchasing Agent like, pros and cons about Purchasing Agents, colleges and universities for Purchasing Agents, is Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products the right career for me, Quite Hard careers to get into, careers in Business and Finance
Additional resources
http://www.bls.gov/OOH/business-and-financial/buyers-and-purchasing-agents.htmhttp://www.american-purchasing.com/
http://www.apics.org/
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