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When Will I Use Math?
WeUseMath.org
Purchasing Agent
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Download PDF Flyer for this career | 1.46 MB |
Purchasing agents are in charge of all buying for their company. They buy the raw materials, goods, and services their company needs to maintain operations. Purchasing agents, or buyers as they are sometimes called, see that their company has a sufficient supply of the materials it needs to operate. However, agents must avoid tying up too much of the company's money in supplies. Their job is to balance quality with cost to ensure that the best purchases are made. It is vital that purchasers stay up to date on overall market conditions and price trends that affect what they are buying. They use the latest pricing information available on the Internet to compute the price of items, the cost of handling and transportation for those items, and the cost of time spent by workers who unload the stock and fill out shipping paperwork.
Low-end Salary:
$34,110/yr
Median Salary:
$538,360/yr
High-end Salary:
$105,610/yr Education:
Most employers require their purchasing agents to have a degree in business, mathematics, economics, engineering or a related field (Bachelor's degree or higher), but a purchasing agent with a Master's degree will have additional opportunities. Many certification programs are also available, such as the CPM, CPP, and CPE.
Math Required:
College Algebra Trigonometry Calculus I and II Linear Algebra Numerical Analysis and Differential Equations Probability and Statistics
When Math Is Used:
The problem solving skills and analytical skills used in mathematics are an essential part of a career as a purchasing manager. Purchasing managers find that they are called on to solve problems, handle details, and coordinate many activities during intense work periods. They must also be comfortable handling complex data and have the ability to see the data from numerous perspectives.
Potential Employers:
Purchasing agents may work in corporate offices, large farms, government offices, manufacturing facilities, retail offices, warehouses, wholesale offices and other similar locations.
Facts:
It is good to know that this field is very competitive, so it wouldn't hurt to gain any competitive advantage available to you, such as a Master’s degree.
Citations:
http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/658/Purchasing-Agent.html http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_... http://www.ehow.com/facts_5008043_job-description-purchasing-agent.html http://www.ehow.com/how_5737292_become-purchasing-agent.html Lambert, Stephen E., and Ruth J. DeCotis. Great Jobs for Math Majors. 2nd ed. New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2006. 167-197. Print.
The most common question students ask math teachers at every level is “When will I use math?” WeUseMath.org is a non-profit website that helps to answer this question. This website describes the importance of mathematics and many rewarding career opportunities available to students who study mathematics.
Figures represent salary potential.
American Mathematical Society 
Mathematical Association of America
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