Buyers and purchasing agents held about 443,200 jobs in 2014. The industries that employed the most buyers and purchasing agents were as follows:
Manufacturing
23%
Wholesale trade
15
Retail trade
9
Management of companies and enterprises
9
Federal government
8
Most buyers and purchasing agents work in comfortable offices. Travel is sometimes necessary, and purchasers for global organizations may need to travel outside the United States.
Work Schedules
Most buyers and purchasing agents work full time. Overtime is common in these occupations. About 1 in 5 worked more than 40 hours per week in 2014.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-2024 Edition
Interesting Fact
While anesthesiologists have one of the highest incomes of all professions, they typically pay over 20% of their after-tax income for professional liability insurance.