Occupations/13-1022.00

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. 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.

Certificate or two-year

Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.

AI automation risk

70%

Higher automation risk

Human characteristics

50%

Balanced human and task mix

Task orientation

65%

Higher automation risk

A day in this job

Mostly human
Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
Mostly routine
Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
Task
Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.

Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.

Core tasks

01Buy merchandise or commodities for resale to wholesale or retail consumers.
02Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers.
03Examine, select, order, or purchase merchandise consistent with quality, quantity, specification requirements, or other factors, such as environmental soundness.
04Recommend mark-up rates, mark-down rates, or merchandise selling prices.
05Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales or purchasing personnel.
06Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise.

Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)

Repeating same tasks4.13
Degree of automation1.81
Time sitting4.00
Originality (ability)3.00
Conflict situations3.40
Hands-on objects/tools2.42
Outdoors / weather1.35
Disease exposure1.41
Decision freedom4.40

Top abilities

Oral Expression4.00
Oral Comprehension4.00
Written Comprehension3.75
Deductive Reasoning3.75
Speech Clarity3.62
Problem Sensitivity3.62
Speech Recognition3.50
Mathematical Reasoning3.50

Essential skills

Reading Comprehension3.25
Active Listening3.75
Writing3.00
Speaking3.75
Mathematics3.12
Science1.75
Critical Thinking3.75
Active Learning3.38
Learning Strategies2.88
Monitoring3.12

CIP matches

12.0510Wine Steward/Sommelier19.0905Apparel and Textile Marketing Management52.1801Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General52.1802Merchandising and Buying Operations52.1899General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other52.1902Fashion Merchandising52.1904Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations

Schools offering related programs

12 of 35 shown

Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.

Institution	Program	Tuition	Admit	Grad 6-yr	Earnings
Houston Community College Houston, TX · Public	Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General 52.1801	$4,300	100%	24%	1 yr $49,258 2 yr $49,358 Bachelor's · CIP 52.18
Boston University Boston, MA · Private nonprofit	Wine Steward/Sommelier 12.0510	$65,200	14%	89%	1 yr $42,682 2 yr $42,682 Master's · CIP 12.05
Oregon State University Corvallis, OR · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$13,200	83%	68%	1 yr $41,193 2 yr $36,848 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09
University of Iowa Iowa City, IA · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$10,700	86%	79%	1 yr $40,550 2 yr $39,585 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$6,500	25%	84%	1 yr $39,510 2 yr $40,455 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09
University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$11,200	49%	89%	1 yr $39,369 2 yr $43,426 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09
Texas State Technical College Waco, TX · Public	Fashion Merchandising 52.1902	$7,200	100%	45%	1 yr $39,153 2 yr $37,208 Bachelor's · CIP 52.19
South Dakota State University Brookings, SD · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$9,600	99%	66%	1 yr $39,009 2 yr $29,685 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$12,800	53%	83%	1 yr $38,289 2 yr $42,012 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$10,800	83%	66%	1 yr $36,938 2 yr $39,909 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$7,100	40%	74%	1 yr $36,560 2 yr $33,993 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09
The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL · Public	Apparel and Textile Marketing Management 19.0905	$11,900	80%	73%	1 yr $35,274 2 yr $35,327 Bachelor's · CIP 19.09