DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

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. Includes assistant wholesale and retail buyers of nonfarm products.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
Wages Updated to First Quarter, 2013

					Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	Mean SE*	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	2,580	224	$30.76/hr	$2.18/hr	$17.10/hr	$21.30/hr	$27.18/hr	$34.96/hr	$49.51/hr
U S	108,670	1,739	$27.88/hr	$0.20/hr	$14.14/hr	$18.77/hr	$25.00/hr	$33.77/hr	$44.99/hr
*SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate.

Leading Industries for Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products Industry OES Employment OES Median Wage Trade, Transportation and Utilities 1,870 $25.54/hr Professional and Business Services 640 $36.19/hr Manufacturing 40 $26.89/hr Education and Health Services 10 $22.66/hr Financial Activities 10 $26.23/hr

Other Regional Data For Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products Geography (click title for details) OES Projections Employment Median Wage % Change 2010 - 2020 Minnesota 2,580 $27.18/hr 8.4% Minneapolis-Saint Paul MN-WI MSA 2,160 $28.15/hr N/A Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN 2,090 $28.29/hr 6.6% Central Minnesota 140 $25.29/hr 19.3% Fargo-Moorhead ND-MN MSA 130 $23.30/hr N/A Northeast Minnesota 110 $16.82/hr 7.6% Duluth-Superior MN-WI MSA 100 $16.76/hr N/A Northwest Minnesota 90 $22.38/hr 7.6% Southeast Minnesota 90 $23.53/hr 4.5% Northwest Balance of State 90 $22.17/hr N/A Saint Cloud MN MSA 80 $23.64/hr N/A Southeast Balance of State 60 $21.28/hr N/A La Crosse WI-MN MSA 50 $19.53/hr N/A Rochester MN MSA 50 $24.26/hr N/A Southwest Minnesota 50 $19.98/hr 9.1% Southwest Balance of State 40 $25.25/hr N/A Grand Forks ND-MN MSA 40 $19.92/hr N/A Mankato-North Mankato, MN MetroSA 30 $19.18/hr N/A Northeast Balance of State 20 $17.41/hr N/A

Related Occupations

Occupation (click title for details)	OES		Projections
	Employment	Median Wage	% Change 2010 - 2020
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	29,720	$30.52/hr	13.7%
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents	8,180	$28.16/hr	13.3%
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	7,570	$39.33/hr	10.1%
Public Relations Specialists	3,510	$27.15/hr	13.4%

• Examines, selects, orders, and purchases merchandise from suppliers or other merchants.
• Inspects, grades, or approves merchandise or products to determine value or yield.
• Authorizes payment of invoices or return of merchandise.
• Conducts staff meetings with sales personnel to introduce new merchandise.
• Approves advertising materials.
• Provides clerks with information, such as price, mark-ups or mark-downs, manufacturer number, season code, and style number to print on price tags.
• Trains purchasing or sales personnel.
• Arranges for transportation of purchases.
• Sets or recommends mark-up rates, mark-down rates, and selling prices for merchandise.
• Analyzes sales records and trends to determine current or expected demand and minimum inventory required.
• Confers with sales and purchasing personnel to obtain information about customer needs and preferences.
• Consults with store or merchandise managers about budget and goods to be purchased.