What You Need to Know About Purchasing Manager
Job Description & Duties Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.
What Do Purchasing Managers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products, or substitute materials.
- Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.
- Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
- Administer online purchasing systems.
- Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
- Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans.
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Purchasing Manager Skills
Purchasing Managers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Materials Coordinator
- Procurement Manager
- Merchandising Manager
- Category Purchasing Manager
- Merchandise Director
Job Demand for Purchasing Managers
In the United States, there were 73,900 jobs for Purchasing Manager in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 4,000 new jobs for Purchasing Manager by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 6,300 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Purchasing Manager are Utah, Washington, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Purchasing Managers Salary
The salary for Purchasing Managers ranges between about $69,860 and $187,060 a year.
Purchasing Managers who work in New Jersey, District of Columbia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Purchasing Managers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $106,940 |
| Alaska | $106,570 |
| Arizona | $105,780 |
| Arkansas | $111,940 |
| California | $141,400 |
| Colorado | $144,090 |
| Connecticut | $124,680 |
| District of Columbia | $141,150 |
| Florida | $112,840 |
| Georgia | $125,290 |
| Hawaii | $108,870 |
| Idaho | $97,830 |
| Illinois | $114,710 |
| Indiana | $99,960 |
| Iowa | $101,980 |
| Kansas | $104,740 |
| Kentucky | $112,350 |
| Louisiana | $92,720 |
| Maine | $102,050 |
| Maryland | $136,630 |
| Massachusetts | $129,320 |
| Michigan | $119,020 |
| Minnesota | $119,160 |
| Mississippi | $96,400 |
| Missouri | $133,990 |
| Montana | $102,830 |
| Nebraska | $104,240 |
| Nevada | $107,160 |
| New Hampshire | $127,540 |
| New Jersey | $164,910 |
| New Mexico | $110,480 |
| New York | $147,470 |
| North Carolina | $118,710 |
| North Dakota | $133,280 |
| Ohio | $123,440 |
| Oklahoma | $102,170 |
| Oregon | $106,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $126,760 |
| Rhode Island | $134,220 |
| South Carolina | $105,130 |
| South Dakota | $139,200 |
| Tennessee | $105,260 |
| Texas | $133,010 |
| Utah | $102,250 |
| Vermont | $102,190 |
| Virginia | $135,600 |
| Washington | $134,480 |
| West Virginia | $132,930 |
| Wisconsin | $106,180 |
| Wyoming | $102,770 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Purchasing Managers
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Purchasing Managers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Database software
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Scheduling software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Qlik Tech QlikView
- NetSuite ERP
- Oracle PeopleSoft Financials
How do I Become a Purchasing Manager?
Are there Purchasing Managers education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Purchasing Manager?
Who Employs Purchasing Managers?
Below are examples of industries where Purchasing Managers work:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Purchasing Manager may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Purchasing Manager in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Mike Moore via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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