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.