jobfacts

Buyers and procurement officers

SOC 2020 3551

Buyers and procurement officers organise and undertake the buying of raw materials, equipment and merchandise from manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and other sources for distribution, resale or for own internal use.

Also calledAdvertising media buyerMedia buyerTVRadio or digital buyerOut of home buyerBid writerand 40 more titles
Typical full-time pay£37,3002025 Provisional
People in the job64,000across the UK
Demand for workersCritical
New adverts a month2,500↓ 4%on last year · 73rd of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time buyers and procurement officers earn between £30,100 and £46,900 a year.

What full-time buyers and procurement officers earn, 2025
£37,300 typical£25,700lowest 10%£30,10025%£50,100top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£30,100–£46,900)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£25,700
Lowest 20% earn less than£28,900
25%£30,100
Median£37,300
75%£46,900
Top 20% earn more than£50,100
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £37,300
London!£41,700
East Midlands!£41,700
West Midlands!£40,800
Wales!£39,000
North West!£37,500
Scotland!£37,100
South West£35,600
East of England!£34,500
South East!£33,900
Yorkshire and The Humber!£32,700
North EastNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £37,300
London£41,700 (small sample)
East Midlands£41,700 (small sample)
West Midlands£40,800 (small sample)
Wales£39,000 (small sample)
North West£37,500 (small sample)
Scotland£37,100 (small sample)
South West£35,600
East of England£34,500 (small sample)
South East£33,900 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£32,700 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £32,400
  • 2024 £35,500
  • 2025 Provisional£37,300
↑ 15% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 2,500 jobs for buyers and procurement officers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as critical.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (4 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20262,950
Jul 20262,461
Jun 2026Not published
May 20262,267
Apr 20262,495
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20262,062
Jan 20262,461
Dec 20251,445
Nov 20252,908
Oct 20252,926
Sept 20253,117
Aug 20252,844
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20253,178
Apr 20252,358
Mar 20252,845
Feb 20252,970
Jan 20252,836
Dec 20241,703
Nov 20242,279
Oct 20242,674
Sept 20242,740
Aug 20242,776
Jul 20242,921
Jun 20242,532
May 20242,915
Apr 20243,097
Mar 20242,755
Feb 20243,013
Jan 20243,710
Dec 20232,613
Nov 20233,048
Oct 20234,659
Sept 20232,837
Aug 20233,037
Jul 20233,010
Jun 20234,185
May 20233,763
Apr 20233,309
Mar 20234,183
Feb 20234,273
Jan 20234,752
Dec 20223,883
Nov 20224,979
Oct 20225,306
Sept 20225,135
Aug 20225,283
Jul 20225,177
Jun 20224,877
May 20225,211
Apr 20224,463
Mar 20225,176
Feb 20225,017
Jan 20225,426
Dec 20214,090
Nov 20214,437
Oct 20214,584
Sept 20213,882
Aug 20213,627
Jul 20214,205
Jun 20213,619
May 20213,985
Apr 20213,515
Mar 20214,269
Feb 20212,674
Jan 20213,071
Dec 20203,104
Nov 20203,065
Oct 20203,103
Sept 20202,671
Aug 20202,166
Jul 20202,011
Jun 20201,963
May 20201,718
Apr 20202,090
Mar 20203,587
Feb 20203,922
Jan 20203,628
Dec 20192,585
Nov 20193,686
Oct 20193,895
Sept 20193,882
Aug 20193,844
Jul 20194,636
Jun 20194,596
May 20194,232
Apr 20192,675
Mar 20193,401
Feb 20193,448
Jan 20193,456
Dec 20182,191
Nov 20183,504
Oct 20183,386
Sept 20183,258
Aug 20182,905
Jul 20183,149
Jun 20183,100
May 20183,166
Apr 20183,118
Mar 20183,299
Feb 20183,318
Jan 20183,774
Dec 20172,104
Nov 20172,792
Oct 20172,768
Sept 20172,864
Aug 20173,167
Jul 20173,007
Jun 20173,735
May 20173,363
Apr 20173,135
Mar 20173,695
Feb 20173,416
Jan 20174,028
Is there a shortage of buyers and procurement officers?
Critical

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was elevated.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsWell above usual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
24%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for sales, marketing and related associate professionals, which includes buyers and procurement officers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London1,106
Manchester174
Birmingham165
Leeds126
Bristol, City of111
Buckinghamshire80
Somerset80
Liverpool76
Southampton73
North Yorkshire65
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where buyers and procurement officers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 36 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from China, India, France, ranking it 157th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of buyers and procurement officers
n/p
25%!
23%!
26%!
19%!
n/p
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–3425% (small sample)
35–4423% (small sample)
45–5426% (small sample)
55–6419% (small sample)
65+Not published
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent48%
Higher education below degree!9.7%
A levels or equivalent21%
GCSEs or equivalent15%
Other qualifications!5.1%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent48%
Higher education below degree9.7% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent21%
GCSEs or equivalent15%
Other qualifications5.1% (small sample)
No qualificationsNot published

Main employers: retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating (9.1%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (5.7%), manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery (5.3%), hospital activities (4.4%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
48%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
3
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
18 months to 2 years
typically

Routes in

Advertising media buyer

You can get into this job through:

University

You could study for a foundation degree or degree in a subject, like:

  • advertising and marketing
  • communication and media studies
  • business management
  • maths, statistics or operational research
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an Advertising Media Executive Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, with an agency, or an Assistant Buyer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship, with a retail business.

These would give you the skills and knowledge needed to move into advertising media buying roles.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could start as an admin assistant or assistant buyer with an agency team.

From there, you could become a media buyer through on-the-job training and promotion.

Volunteering

Work experience could give you a better understanding of the role. You would also make contacts who might be of help when you look for paid work in advertising. You could try:

  • volunteering
  • internships
  • temporary jobs

Social media sites like LinkedIn can be a useful way to make contact with agencies about potential opportunities.

Other routes

If you have a degree, you can apply for a place on a graduate training scheme with an advertising agency.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Some employers combine the roles of media buyer with media planner, which means you could get a wide range of experience before specialising in the role you prefer.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about media buying as a career from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA).

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for advertising media buyer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Bid writer

You can get into this job through:

University

Some employers will expect you to have a degree.

Relevant subjects include:

  • English
  • business management
  • sales and marketing
  • law

You could also study a subject relevant to an industry you want to work in, like IT, civil engineering or construction. Once working, you could specialise in bid writing or contract management.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply for a place with an organisation to do a Bid and Proposal Co-ordinator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

This takes around 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job training with study.

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements but it may help you to get in if you have:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Work your way up

You could start as a trainee or junior bid writer. You’ll usually need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths. Some employers will prefer you to have a minimum of A levels.

You may also be able to work your way up from administrative jobs, through training and promotion, especially in bid writing companies.

Once working, you could develop your career by taking work-based training like that offered by the Association of Proposal Management Professionals.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

It may help when looking for work, if you have experience or a professional qualification in marketing.

If you're preparing bids for overseas work contracts or funding, the ability to speak another language might help.

Experience in technical writing or research may also be useful when applying for work as a bid writer.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Association of Proposal Management Professionals for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about a career in bid writing from the Association of Proposal Management Professionals.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for bid writer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

3 for this job
Level 3About 18 months

Procurement and supply assistant

You gain
Advanced Certificate in Procurement and Supply Operations
Leads to
Chartered Institute Procurement & Supply
Details on Skills England
Level 4About 18 months

Procurement and supply chain practitioner

You gain
CIPS L4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply
Leads to
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply
Employers may ask for
Typically an apprentice might be expected to have already achieved GCSE Maths and English on entry.
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • attends trade fairs, shows and demonstrations to research new product lines and suppliers, checks catalogues
  • keeps up with market trends and chooses products/services
  • assesses budgetary limitations and customer requirements and decides on quantity, type, range and quality of goods or services to be bought
  • assesses bids from suppliers, finds suppliers and negotiates prices
  • helps negotiate contract with supplier and specifies details of goods or services required
  • looks at ways to improve supply networks, presents new ideas to senior management team
  • ensures that delivered items comply with order, monitors quality of incoming goods and returns unsatisfactory or faulty items, monitors performance and makes sure targets are met
  • supervises clerical, administrative and warehouse distribution staff, deals with recruitment and training
  • works closely with merchandisers who allocate stock and develop sales forecasts
  • maintains records and prepares reports as necessary

Skills

  • coordinate purchasing activities
  • identify suppliers
  • maintain relationship with suppliers
  • manage budgets
  • carry out internet research
  • check deliveries on receipt
  • maintain inventory of rented items
  • manage logistics
  • manage rented goods returns
  • advise on timber-based products
  • analyse a script
  • analyse costume sketches
  • apply procurement
  • assess supplier risks

Knowledge

  • film production process
  • film studies
  • lighting techniques
  • photography
  • aesthetics
  • cinematography
  • embargo regulations
  • export control principles

Suits people who like

  • Organising and following procedures
  • Leading and persuading

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for business and public service associate professionals, a group of 26 jobs that includes buyers and procurement officers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 1.2%about 26,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.1 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

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