Buyer

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Work Tasks

• Help companies look for the best quality products at the lowest price
• Must know what customers will want and what new items are available
• Bargain to buy things at the lowest price
• Must follow purchasing laws and policies
• Work in offices for the government, restaurants, stores, utility companies, schools, and hospitals
• Work with catalogs, price lists, product samples, government reports, market research reports, and computers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $58,500 average per year ($28.00 per hour)
• A medium occupation (108,200 workers in 2010)
• Expected to decline (0.2% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in business or a field related to the products being purchased
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree in business, economics, or technical training such as engineering or one of the applied sciences
• Skills/Courses: The skills needed depend on the size of the business and the products being purchased.
• Certification/Licensing: Certification is available after training and passing tests.