Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products earn a median of $77,710 per year ($37.36/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 6.0% through 2035, with about 47,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-1022
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products in four numbers
- Median pay
- $77,710a year, or $37.36/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $48KTop 10% $129K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 47,200516,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025516.1K
- Projected 2035547K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 516.1K Projected 2035 547K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Bakery Buyer, Buyer, Deli Buyer, Frozen Food Buyer, Gourmet Food Buyer, Grocery Buyer.
Pay
How much do wholesale and retail buyers make?
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products earn a median of $77,710 a year ($37.36 an hour, or about $6,480 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $48,380 and the top 10% more than $128,870 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $124,090. See Wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around Lexington Park ($114,770 average): salary in every city.
Every wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$77,710
Middle half earn $60,800 to $100,820
- 10th
- $48,380
- 25th
- $60,800
- 75th
- $100,820
- 90th
- $128,870
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,380 |
| 25th | $60,800 |
| Median | $77,710 |
| 75th | $100,820 |
| 90th | $128,870 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $77,710
- Median hourly wage
- $37.36/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $83,770
- People employed
- 491,430
Versus all US occupations
At $77,710, Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products earn 52% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $26,730 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 4% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $128,870 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,380, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 54% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $124,090, and still leads at $112,911 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay wholesale and retail buyers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $124,090 | $112,911 | 1,880 |
| 2New Jersey | $93,250 | $85,704 | 12,180 |
| 3Maryland | $90,900 | $86,605 | 8,900 |
| 4Virginia | $89,210 | $88,236 | 22,120 |
| 5Rhode Island | $86,240 | $84,318 | N/A |
| 6Massachusetts | $85,970 | $81,290 | 12,820 |
| 7Washington | $85,130 | $79,551 | 15,400 |
| 8Colorado | $83,590 | $81,114 | 10,080 |
| 9Alaska | $83,460 | $81,537 | 890 |
| 10Connecticut | $83,030 | $80,137 | 5,530 |
Job outlook
Is wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | +6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products to change 6.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 30,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 47,200 openings are projected each year, 9.1% of the 516,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents will continue to be needed to help procure goods and services for business operations and for resale to customers. They also will be needed to oversee complex supply chains and to negotiate and manage contracts with suppliers. Organizations continue to automate some procurement tasks and integrate artificial intelligence (AI), making their procurement activities more efficient.
In the public sector, employment demand may be impacted by the continued use of cooperative purchasing agreements. These agreements allow government agencies to share resources to buy supplies, which may limit the need for procurement officers.
AI exposure: very high
BLS places this occupation in its very high relative AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents typically need a bachelor’s degree, although some employers hire candidates who have a high school diploma. Purchasing managers also need several years of related work experience.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products do?
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.
Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products. Purchasing managers oversee the work of buyers and purchasing agents and typically handle more complex procurement tasks.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.
- Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.
- Collaborate with vendors to obtain or develop desired products.
- Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.
- Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
- Consult with store or merchandise managers about budgets or goods to be purchased.
- Inspect merchandise or products to determine quality, value, or yield.
- Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. For others, part-time work may be common.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Manufacturing22%
- Wholesale trade14%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals13%
- Management of companies and enterprises8%
- Retail trade7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22% |
| Wholesale trade | 14% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 13% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8% |
| Retail trade | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Active Learning3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Writing3.1
- Mathematics3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Negotiation4.0
- Persuasion3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Coordination3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Service Orientation3.0
- Management of Financial Resources3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Negotiation | 4.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Management of Financial Resources | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products?
Women make up 52.4% of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole.
29.6% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure.
The median worker is 44.4 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 52.4%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 44.4All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 29.6%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 179,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 52.4% | 47.1% |
| White | 81.6% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 8.3% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 4.2% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.5% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 29.6% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 7.8% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising5.2
- Conventional5.2
- Realistic3.4
- Social2.5
- Investigative1.9
- Artistic1.6
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
Purchasing Agent, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
$77,710median a year
Most earn $48K to $129K
+6.0%Bachelor's - Office and Administrative Support
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
- Sales and Related
Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent
$78,660median a year
Most earn $48K to $213K
+1.4%Bachelor's - Sales and Related
Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
$72,080median a year
Most earn $39K to $138K
−0.9%High school
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products$77,710
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products | $77,710 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products appears on
Questions
Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products: frequently asked questions
How much do wholesale and retail buyers make?
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products earn a median of $77,710 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 52% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $37.36/hr. The middle half earn between $60,800 and $100,820. The top 10% earn $128,870 or more.
How much do wholesale and retail buyers make an hour?
The median hourly wage for wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products is $37.36 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $77,710 annual median works out to about $6,480 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products earn less than $48,380 a year and the bottom quarter less than $60,800 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do wholesale and retail buyers make $100k?
Some do. $100,000 sits between the median ($77,710) and the 75th percentile ($100,820), so roughly a quarter to a half of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). One state has a median above $100,000: District of Columbia ($124,090).
Which states pay wholesale and retail buyers the most?
The highest state medians for Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products are District of Columbia ($124,090), New Jersey ($93,250), Maryland ($90,900) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products earns the most?
BLS does not split wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $128,870, against a median of $77,710 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($124,090), New Jersey ($93,250), Maryland ($90,900). BLS also counts 2 specialty careers inside this occupation (fashion buyer, merchandise planner), which share its federal pay figures.
Do you need a degree to become a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
How long does it take to become a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for wholesale and retail buyers is a bachelor's degree. Once hired, BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. O*NET classes the work as needing medium preparation.
Is wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 47,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products do?
Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. A core O*NET task: examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software.
Do wholesale and retail buyers work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 21% of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products usually work more than 40 hours a week, 66% work exactly 40 and 13% work fewer. 93% say their schedule is regular and 8% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits a wholesale and retail buyer, except farm products?
O*NET scores Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of wholesale and retail buyers are women?
Women make up 52.4% of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products, against 47.1% of all employed people: more women than in the workforce as a whole. 29.6% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure. The median worker is 44.4 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.