Also called: Procurement Manager, Supply Chain Manager
Leads the team that buys the raw materials, parts and machines a factory needs.
Steel prices just jumped 20%, so you call suppliers to lock in contracts and look for a backup source in case one fails. You negotiate a multi-million-dollar deal and review whether the plant has enough chips for next quarter.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in supply chain, business or engineering plus years as a buyer; CPSM certification.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering.
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years). BLS projects about average growth.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI handles price comparisons and routine orders; negotiating big contracts and supplier strategy stay human.
Classes: Business class, Economics, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-3061.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.