Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
SOC Code: 13-1023 Job Zone 4: Considerable Preparation Needed
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $68,765 | $90,771 | $112,778 | $134,784 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $68,182 | $89,128 | $110,074 | $131,019 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $65,749 | $86,840 | $107,952 | $129,043 |
| Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $54,267 | $78,915 | $103,584 | $128,232 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $57,616 | $80,226 | $102,814 | $125,424 |
| Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $47,861 | $71,094 | $94,349 | $117,582 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,938 | $82,430 | $99,944 | $117,437 |
| Huntsville, AL | $58,261 | $77,168 | $96,075 | $114,982 |
| Boulder, CO | $59,301 | $76,544 | $93,787 | $111,030 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $59,238 | $76,315 | $93,371 | $110,448 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| TESLA, INC. | 58 | $126,556 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | 31 | $91,231 |
| AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC. | 9 | $81,111 |
| AUTOMANN, INC. | 7 | $80,579 |
| Canadian Solar U.S. Module Manufacturing Corporation | 7 | $65,231 |
| Schlumberger Technology Corporation | 6 | $78,681 |
| Cummins Inc. | 4 | $66,172 |
| FCA US Purchasing LLC | 4 | $123,336 |
| AMAZON DATA SERVICES, INC | 4 | $115,526 |
| BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc. | 4 | $114,100 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 21 | $86,112 |
| 2021 | 26 | $90,006 |
| 2022 | 19 | $90,770 |
| 2023 | 106 | $84,681 |
| 2024 | 202 | $87,714 |
| 2025 | 253 | $1,726,233 |
| 2026 | 34 | $90,704 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Negotiation | 4.2 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Active Learning | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | |
| Management of Financial Resources | 3.8 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| English Language | 4.6 |
| Law and Government | 4.3 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.2 |
| Administration and Management | 4.0 |
| Administrative | 3.6 |
| Mathematics | 3.4 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.3 |
| Economics and Accounting | 3.3 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 65.0% |
| High school diploma | 15.0% |
| Associate's degree | 10.0% |
| Master's degree | 10.0% |
Typical Tasks
- Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
- Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
- Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
- Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
- Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
- Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Google Docs Intuit QuickBooks Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Word Oracle Database Oracle PeopleSoft Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
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