Wholesale and Retail Buyers
Impact: Financial, Operational
Wholesale and Retail Buyers are professionals responsible for selecting and purchasing merchandise for resale to businesses or consumers. They negotiate prices, discount terms, and transportation arrangements with suppliers, evaluate suppliers, and review the quality of products. This role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Team: 60%, Solo: 40%
- Client facing
- Frequent
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Moderate (20-30%)
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Hybrid
- Typical work hours
- 40
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $70,000
- Entry-level
- $45,000
- Senior
- $110,000
- Growth by 2033
- 5%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High
- Typical student debt
- $20,000 - $30,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Market Analysis
- Vendor Management
- Inventory Management
- Financial Acumen
- Supply Chain Management
Soft skills
- Negotiation
- Persuasion
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
- Attention to Detail
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 5
- Years to senior
- 10
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Buyer
- Senior Buyer
- Purchasing Manager
- Director of Purchasing
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 15%
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 4/10
- Meaning
- 3.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.5/10
- Prestige
- 6.5/10
- Social perception
- High