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Educational Paraprofessional Careers and Jobs

Select, Find and Prepare for Educational Paraprofessional Careers and Jobs - all on one page

For people who want classroom experience and a faster path into schools than a full teaching credential. Use the tools below to see which educational paraprofessional roles fit your background and goals.

This role supports classroom teachers directly and typically requires less formal education than a teaching credential, making it a faster entry point into schools. Use the tools below to explore Educational Paraprofessional-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like Teacher's Aide, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Lead Paraprofessional or Program Coordinator. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as Paraprofessional Certification (state-specific), that can help you move up the career ladder.



4 Steps to Use This Page: 1-Explore Careers of Intrerest 2-See Job Listings Matched to Career 3-Prepare for the Career 4-See External Career Resources

Here is a short Helper Video External Link

This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from Educational Paraprofessional careers/jobs, (2) Find Educational Paraprofessional job listings, (3) Prepare for Educational Paraprofessional careers, and (4) Provide Educational Paraprofessional career-specific resources.

Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of Educational Paraprofessional careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing Educational Paraprofessional Careers - 2025 to 2035 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving Educational Paraprofessional careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to Educational Paraprofessional, so relevant Educational Paraprofessional jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. Educational Paraprofessional Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) Educational Paraprofessional Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify Educational Paraprofessional careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 38 Educational Paraprofessional Jobs.
The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title of interest, simply click on it.

Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.

Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.

** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.

Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview. Can also assist with coffee chats.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.




Step 1 of 4: Select a Career/Job

6 Educational Paraprofessional careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2025 to 2035 est.). Educational Paraprofessional-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:

Occupations U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035 (% change) Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs

Training and Development Specialists 10.8% Cyber Instructional Curriculum Developer
Occupation: Training and Development Specialists U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 10.8% Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Cyber Instructional Curriculum Developer
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 3.5% Safety Instruction Police Officer
Occupation: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 3.5% Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Safety Instruction Police Officer
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists 2.6% Instruction Librarian; Reference and Instruction Librarian
Occupation: Librarians and Media Collections Specialists U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 2.6% Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Instruction Librarian; Reference and Instruction Librarian
Education Administrators, Postsecondary 1.8% Instruction Dean; Instruction Vice President (Instruction VP)
Occupation: Education Administrators, Postsecondary U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 1.8% Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Instruction Dean; Instruction Vice President (Instruction VP)
Instructional Coordinators 1.6% Curriculum and Instruction Director; E-Learning Instructional Designer (Electronic Learning Instructional Designer); Instructional Coach; Instructional Coordinator; Instructional Design Analyst; Instructional Design Consultant; Instructional Design Specialist; Instructional Design Technologist; Instructional Designer; Instructional Manager; Instructional Material Director; Instructional Materials Director; Instructional Specialist; Instructional Systems Designer; Instructional Systems Specialist; Instructional Technologist; Instructional Technology Coordinator; Instructional Technology Facilitator; Instructional Technology Resource Teacher; Instructional Technology Site Technologist; Instructional Technology Specialist
Occupation: Instructional Coordinators U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: 1.6% Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Curriculum and Instruction Director; E-Learning Instructional Designer (Electronic Learning Instructional Designer); Instructional Coach; Instructional Coordinator; Instructional Design Analyst; Instructional Design Consultant; Instructional Design Specialist; Instructional Design Technologist; Instructional Designer; Instructional Manager; Instructional Material Director; Instructional Materials Director; Instructional Specialist; Instructional Systems Designer; Instructional Systems Specialist; Instructional Technologist; Instructional Technology Coordinator; Instructional Technology Facilitator; Instructional Technology Resource Teacher; Instructional Technology Site Technologist; Instructional Technology Specialist
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary -0.3% Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent
Occupation: Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035: -0.3% Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent

7 Educational Paraprofessional careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). Educational Paraprofessional-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::

Occupations National Median Salary Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $ 105,870 Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent
Occupation: Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary National Median Salary: $ 105,870 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent
Education Administrators, Postsecondary $ 104,590 Instruction Dean; Instruction Vice President (Instruction VP)
Occupation: Education Administrators, Postsecondary National Median Salary: $ 104,590 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Instruction Dean; Instruction Vice President (Instruction VP)
Instructional Coordinators $ 77,440 Curriculum and Instruction Director; E-Learning Instructional Designer (Electronic Learning Instructional Designer); Instructional Coach; Instructional Coordinator; Instructional Design Analyst; Instructional Design Consultant; Instructional Design Specialist; Instructional Design Technologist; Instructional Designer; Instructional Manager; Instructional Material Director; Instructional Materials Director; Instructional Specialist; Instructional Systems Designer; Instructional Systems Specialist; Instructional Technologist; Instructional Technology Coordinator; Instructional Technology Facilitator; Instructional Technology Resource Teacher; Instructional Technology Site Technologist; Instructional Technology Specialist
Occupation: Instructional Coordinators National Median Salary: $ 77,440 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Curriculum and Instruction Director; E-Learning Instructional Designer (Electronic Learning Instructional Designer); Instructional Coach; Instructional Coordinator; Instructional Design Analyst; Instructional Design Consultant; Instructional Design Specialist; Instructional Design Technologist; Instructional Designer; Instructional Manager; Instructional Material Director; Instructional Materials Director; Instructional Specialist; Instructional Systems Designer; Instructional Systems Specialist; Instructional Technologist; Instructional Technology Coordinator; Instructional Technology Facilitator; Instructional Technology Resource Teacher; Instructional Technology Site Technologist; Instructional Technology Specialist
Adapted Physical Education Specialists $ 76,580 APE Instructional Specialist (Adapted Physical Education Instructional Specialist)
Occupation: Adapted Physical Education Specialists National Median Salary: $ 76,580 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: APE Instructional Specialist (Adapted Physical Education Instructional Specialist)
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $ 76,210 Safety Instruction Police Officer
Occupation: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers National Median Salary: $ 76,210 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Safety Instruction Police Officer
Training and Development Specialists $ 69,280 Cyber Instructional Curriculum Developer
Occupation: Training and Development Specialists National Median Salary: $ 69,280 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Cyber Instructional Curriculum Developer
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists $ 68,270 Instruction Librarian; Reference and Instruction Librarian
Occupation: Librarians and Media Collections Specialists National Median Salary: $ 68,270 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Instruction Librarian; Reference and Instruction Librarian

9 Educational Paraprofessional careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. Educational Paraprofessional-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.

Education/Preparation Categories:
5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.)
4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree
3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree
2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always
Please Scroll and Select below:
Occupations Education/Preparation Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs

Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary 5 Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent
Occupation: Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary Education/Preparation: 5 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent
Education Administrators, Postsecondary 5 Instruction Dean; Instruction Vice President (Instruction VP)
Occupation: Education Administrators, Postsecondary Education/Preparation: 5 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Instruction Dean; Instruction Vice President (Instruction VP)
Instructional Coordinators 5 Curriculum and Instruction Director; E-Learning Instructional Designer (Electronic Learning Instructional Designer); Instructional Coach; Instructional Coordinator; Instructional Design Analyst; Instructional Design Consultant; Instructional Design Specialist; Instructional Design Technologist; Instructional Designer; Instructional Manager; Instructional Material Director; Instructional Materials Director; Instructional Specialist; Instructional Systems Designer; Instructional Systems Specialist; Instructional Technologist; Instructional Technology Coordinator; Instructional Technology Facilitator; Instructional Technology Resource Teacher; Instructional Technology Site Technologist; Instructional Technology Specialist
Occupation: Instructional Coordinators Education/Preparation: 5 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Curriculum and Instruction Director; E-Learning Instructional Designer (Electronic Learning Instructional Designer); Instructional Coach; Instructional Coordinator; Instructional Design Analyst; Instructional Design Consultant; Instructional Design Specialist; Instructional Design Technologist; Instructional Designer; Instructional Manager; Instructional Material Director; Instructional Materials Director; Instructional Specialist; Instructional Systems Designer; Instructional Systems Specialist; Instructional Technologist; Instructional Technology Coordinator; Instructional Technology Facilitator; Instructional Technology Resource Teacher; Instructional Technology Site Technologist; Instructional Technology Specialist
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists 5 Instruction Librarian; Reference and Instruction Librarian
Occupation: Librarians and Media Collections Specialists Education/Preparation: 5 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Instruction Librarian; Reference and Instruction Librarian
Adapted Physical Education Specialists 4 APE Instructional Specialist (Adapted Physical Education Instructional Specialist)
Occupation: Adapted Physical Education Specialists Education/Preparation: 4 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: APE Instructional Specialist (Adapted Physical Education Instructional Specialist)
Training and Development Specialists 4 Cyber Instructional Curriculum Developer
Occupation: Training and Development Specialists Education/Preparation: 4 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Cyber Instructional Curriculum Developer
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 3 Safety Instruction Police Officer
Occupation: Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Education/Preparation: 3 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Safety Instruction Police Officer
Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education 3 BSIP Instructional Aide (Basic Skills Improvement Program Instructional Aide); Instructional Aide; Instructional Assistant; Instructional Paraprofessional; Preschool Instructional Assistant (Preschool IA)
Occupation: Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education Education/Preparation: 3 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: BSIP Instructional Aide (Basic Skills Improvement Program Instructional Aide); Instructional Aide; Instructional Assistant; Instructional Paraprofessional; Preschool Instructional Assistant (Preschool IA)
Teaching Assistants, Special Education 3 Basic Skills Improvement Program Instructional Aide (BSIP Instructional Aide); Special Programs Instructional Assistant; SPED Instructional Aide (Special Education Instructional Aide); SPED Instructional Assistant (Special Education Instructional Assistant)
Occupation: Teaching Assistants, Special Education Education/Preparation: 3 Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs: Basic Skills Improvement Program Instructional Aide (BSIP Instructional Aide); Special Programs Instructional Assistant; SPED Instructional Aide (Special Education Instructional Aide); SPED Instructional Assistant (Special Education Instructional Assistant)

Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 38 specific Educational Paraprofessional job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:

hidden filler

Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below

Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.

Enter a Keyword (filter the list below)
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:



Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :

Step 2 of 4: Find a Job

Find Job Listings: Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products.


Search results will open in a new tab.

Note: Job search results work best for U.S.-based locations. For international searches, try searching for "[job title] in [city, country]" directly on the selected job board, or visit their country-specific website.

Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career





Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

Description: 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.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products":

Core Duties

Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation.
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
Importance: 100 (%) Description: Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
Importance: 95 (%) Description: Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
Importance: 95 (%) Description: Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
Importance: 95 (%) Description: Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.
Importance: 95 (%) Description: Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.
Importance: 95 (%) Description: Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.
Importance: 90 (%) Description: Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.
Importance: 85 (%) Description: Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.
Supplemental Duties
Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation.
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 90 (%) Description: Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices.
Importance: 65 (%) Description: Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges.
Work Activities

Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation.
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 92 (%) Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Importance: 89 (%) Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Importance: 88 (%) Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Importance: 86 (%) Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Importance: 84 (%) Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Importance: 82 (%) Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Importance: 82 (%) Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Importance: 81 (%) Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Importance: 81 (%) Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Importance: 81 (%) Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Importance: 78 (%) Description: Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Importance: 78 (%) Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Importance: 77 (%) Description: Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Importance: 76 (%) Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Importance: 74 (%) Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Importance: 74 (%) Description: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Importance: 73 (%) Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Importance: 73 (%) Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Importance: 72 (%) Description: Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Importance: 72 (%) Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Importance: 70 (%) Description: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Importance: 69 (%) Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Importance: 68 (%) Description: Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
Importance: 68 (%) Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Importance: 62 (%) Description: Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Specific Work Activities

Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below:
Analyze business or financial data.
Analyze market conditions or trends.
Conduct eligibility or selection interviews.
Confer with personnel to coordinate business operations.
Develop business relationships.
Develop technical specifications for systems or equipment.
Establish organizational guidelines or policies.
Estimate demand for products or services.
Evaluate applicable laws and regulations to determine impact on organizational activities.
Execute sales or other financial transactions.
Maintain data in information systems or databases.
Monitor inventories of products or materials.
Monitor organizational processes.
Negotiate contracts with clients or service providers.
Obtain information about goods or services.
Pay charges, fees, or taxes.
Purchase products or services.
Supervise employees.
Train personnel to enhance job skills.
Knowledge Required

Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation.
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 89 (%) Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Importance: 83 (%) Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Importance: 79 (%) Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Importance: 71 (%) Description: Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Importance: 65 (%) Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Essential Skills

Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now?
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 68 (%) Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: 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.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Importance: 62 (%) Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Transferable Skills

Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility?
Importance (%) Description
Importance: 71 (%) Description: Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Importance: 66 (%) Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Importance: 64 (%) Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Importance: 62 (%) Description: Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Importance: 62 (%) Description: Management of Financial Resources: Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.
Importance: 54 (%) Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Importance: 54 (%) Description: Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Importance: 54 (%) Description: Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Importance: 54 (%) Description: Management of Material Resources: Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
Importance: 52 (%) Description: Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Importance: 52 (%) Description: Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Day-in-the-Life Summaries

Day-in-the-Life Summaries
These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you?
Activity: Analyze business or financial data.
Activity: Analyze market or industry conditions.
Activity: Assess characteristics or impacts of regulations or policies.
Activity: Communicate with others about business strategies.
Activity: Develop organizational policies, systems, or processes.
Activity: Develop professional relationships or networks.
Activity: Develop technical specifications for products or operations.
Activity: Execute financial transactions.
Activity: Maintain operational records.
Activity: Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance.
Activity: Monitor resources or inventories.
Activity: Negotiate contracts or agreements.
Activity: Obtain information about goods or services.
Activity: Perform recruiting or hiring activities.
Activity: Purchase goods or services.
Activity: Supervise personnel activities.
Activity: Train others on operational or work procedures.
Software Skills

Software Skills
These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job?
High-Priority Tech Skills
Document management software:
Microsoft SharePoint
Electronic mail software:
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software:
SAP software
Office suite software:
Microsoft Office software
Presentation software:
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software:
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software:
Microsoft Word
Emerging Tech Skills
Accounting software:
Intuit QuickBooks
Data base user interface and query software:
Microsoft Access
Oracle Database
Document management software:
Adobe Acrobat
Enterprise resource planning ERP software:
Oracle PeopleSoft
Process mapping and design software:
Microsoft Visio
Project management software:
Microsoft Project
Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Word processing software:
Google Docs
General Software Tools
Accounting software:
Choice Job Cost
Cost accounting software
CPR International GeneralCOST Estimator
Analytical or scientific software:
Construction Management Software ProEst
QSM SLIM Suite
Resources Calculations Incorporated SoftCost
WinEstimator WinEst
Business intelligence and data analysis software:
IBM Cognos Impromptu
MicroStrategy
Data base reporting software:
Database reporting software
SAP BusinessObjects Crystal Reports
Software AG enterprise software
Data base user interface and query software (scroll table below):
Assured Software JPP
Database software
FileMaker Pro
Sage 100 Contractor
Xactware Xactimate
Electronic mail software:
IBM Notes
Enterprise resource planning ERP software (scroll table below):
Infor ERP SyteLine
Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics GP
NetSuite ERP
Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
Oracle PeopleSoft Financials
SAP Business Objects
Enterprise system management software:
IBM Power Systems software
Financial analysis software (scroll table below):
Cost estimating software
CPR Visual Estimator
IBM Costimater
Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
Softstar Costar COCOMO II
Graphics or photo imaging software:
SmugMug Flickr
Internet browser software:
Web browser software
Inventory management software:
Inventory management systems
Project management software:
Dexter + Cheney Spectrum Construction Software
Galorath SEER-SEM
Sales and marketing software:
Google Ads
Spreadsheet software:
Apple AppleWorks
Corel QuattroPro
IBM Lotus 1-2-3
Preparation Required
Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job?
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
Education Required

Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment
This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work?
Frequency of Attainment (%) Level of Education
Frequency of Attainment: 65.0 (%) Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree
Frequency of Attainment: 15.0 (%) Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Frequency of Attainment: 10.0 (%) Level of Education: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Frequency of Attainment: 10.0 (%) Level of Education: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Training and Experience Required

Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment
This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work?
Frequency of Attainment (%) Level of Training and Work Experience
Frequency of Attainment: 35.0 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Frequency of Attainment: 30.0 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
Frequency of Attainment: 15.0 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Frequency of Attainment: 10.0 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Frequency of Attainment: 5.0 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: None
Frequency of Attainment: 5.0 (%) Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years
Local Salary Information

There are no Salary data available for this occupation - updates are made quarterly

Certifications
Certifications
These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them?
Certified Professional Property Specialist External Link
Professional Associations
Professional Associations
These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities?
American Subcontractors Association (ASA) External Link
Related Careers to Consider


Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources

This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.

Videos

Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.


Resumes

Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.


Job Description

Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.


Interviews

There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.


Salary Data

Here are links to help you identify salary ranges for this occupation. These data are necessary prior to effective salary negotiations.


Raises

Here are resources that help you to prepare to ask for a raise. These links will help you to prepare for the salary negotiation process.


Jobs

Here are resources that lead to links for actual jobs related to "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products". Use these links to find a job.


Jobs

Here are resources that lead to links for actual jobs related to "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products". Use these links to find a job.


Classifieds

There are various sources for job classified ads. These links should help get you started to find a job for this occupation.


Step-by-Step

Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products


Career Change

Here are resources to help you prepare for a career change. It is helpful to look carefully at the information provided in Section 3: Career Change (detailed previously on this page) prior to using these links. There is much to learn ...


LinkedIn®

Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.


Career Path

Here are links to various resources to help you explore the career path related to the "Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products" occupation.






Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page