SOC 13-1022.00Bright outlook

    Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products

    Buy merchandise or commodities, other than farm products, for resale to consumers at the wholesale or retail level, including both durable and nondurable goods.

    Median pay
    $77,710
    Growth
    +6.0%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    47,200
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Buyers and purchasing agents"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $48,380
    Median
    $77,710
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $128,870
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    491,430 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Wholesale and retail buyers select and purchase nonfarm goods for resale to consumers. The position offers a median annual pay of $77,710, with opportunities available across both wholesale and retail sectors.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    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.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this career select, order, and authorize payments for merchandise based on contract agreements. Day-to-day tasks involve analyzing past sales records, buying trends, prices, and product quality to determine potential value. Buyers regularly make decisions, solve problems, process information, and work with computers. They also negotiate contracts, communicate with external suppliers, and coordinate with internal sales staff to introduce new products.

    Succeeding in this role requires strong enterprising interests and a mix of critical thinking, active listening, persuasion, and negotiation skills. Buyers must have a solid understanding of administration, management, customer service, and sales and marketing. Key work styles include attention to detail, dependability, self-confidence, and initiative. Because the job involves managing vendor relationships and organizing inventory plans, establishing strong interpersonal relationships and maintaining clear communication with supervisors and peers are essential.

    How to get there

    To enter this field, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that a bachelor's degree is typically needed. However, the occupation is classified under O*NET Job Zone 3, meaning some individuals prepare through vocational training, an associate degree, or related work experience. Relevant college majors include apparel and textiles, general sales, culinary arts and related services, and merchandising and marketing operations.

    Prospective buyers can earn the Retail Industry Fundamentals certification from the National Retail Federation Foundation to build their credentials. Additionally, some states list licensing requirements for this line of work. Practical experience in retail sales or purchasing support roles can also help candidates transition into full buyer positions.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for this career is $77,710. The lowest 10 percent of earners make less than $48,380, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $128,870. These wage figures represent the broader Bureau of Labor Statistics group for buyers and purchasing agents.

    There are 491,430 people employed in this field. Employment is projected to grow by 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth and replacement needs are expected to generate 47,200 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    40 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    15 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    9 / 100
    Social (S)
    24 / 100
    Enterprising (E) · strongest
    71 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    70 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code ECR. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    90
    Processing Information
    87
    Working with Computers
    86
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    85
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    85
    Getting Information
    83
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    78
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    78
    Performing Administrative Activities
    77
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    75
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Negotiation
    • Active Listening
    • Persuasion
    • Speaking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Learning
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Monitoring
    • Coordination

    Knowledge

    • Administration and Management
    • English Language
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Production and Processing
    • Mathematics
    • Administrative
    • Education and Training
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Personnel and Human Resources
    • Public Safety and Security

    Abilities

    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Speech Clarity
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Mathematical Reasoning
    • Speech Recognition
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Near Vision

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Self-Confidence
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Social Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Perseverance
    • Adaptability
    • Initiative
    • Cautiousness

    Also called

    Bakery Buyer · Buyer · Buying Professional · Commodity Buyer · Deli Buyer · Exporter · Fashion Buyer · Frozen Food Buyer · Fur Buyer · Gold Buyer

    Career pathway

    From your interests to wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products$77,710 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Baylor University logo
      Baylor University

      Waco, TX · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $85,374
      4 yrs after
      $125,167
      Median debt
      $21,375
    2. 2Cornell University-New York logo
      Cornell University-New York

      Ithaca, NY · Apparel and Textiles · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $60,834
      4 yrs after
      $94,967
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3Texas A & M University-College Station logo
      Texas A & M University-College Station

      College Station, TX · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $72,444
      4 yrs after
      $93,141
      Median debt
      $18,458
    4. 4
      Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

      Bowling Green, OH · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $63,510
      4 yrs after
      $86,245
      Median debt
      $22,625
    5. 5Weber State University logo
      Weber State University

      Ogden, UT · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $73,639
      4 yrs after
      $82,549
      Median debt
      $15,668
    6. 6Purdue University-Main Campus logo
      Purdue University-Main Campus

      West Lafayette, IN · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $66,112
      4 yrs after
      $82,441
      Median debt
      $19,043
    7. 7University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus logo
      University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus

      Madison, WI · General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $58,551
      4 yrs after
      $82,081
      Median debt
      $14,567
    8. 8Saint Joseph's University logo
      Saint Joseph's University

      Philadelphia, PA · Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $62,952
      4 yrs after
      $80,764
      Median debt
      $24,335

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations
    • Apparel and Textile Marketing Management
    • Fashion Merchandising
    • General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other
    • Merchandising and Buying Operations
    • Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General
    • Wine Steward/Sommelier

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    6 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    People in this field are also called fashion buyers, commodity buyers, bakery buyers, and deli buyers. Other titles include frozen food buyer, gold buyer, exporter, and buying professional.

    What college majors are most relevant for becoming a buyer?

    Students often major in apparel and textiles, general sales, or culinary arts and related services. Other common majors include specialized sales, merchandising, and marketing operations.

    Is a license or certification required to work in this field?

    A license is listed by some states for this work, though requirements vary by location. Professionals can also earn the Retail Industry Fundamentals certification from the National Retail Federation Foundation to demonstrate their industry knowledge.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 6, 2026.