Job Exposure
Index

Home / All jobs / Business and Financial Operations

AI exposure score

Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products score 47 out of 100, which is elevated exposure to AI. That ranks #299 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 19 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 16 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 9 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

47/ 100
Elevated
Rank
#299of 923 jobs
US workers
491,430for Buyers and Purchasing Agents
Median pay
$77,710a year
In real AI use
9 of 19tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

  • AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (5%)
  • AI can speed this up with extra software: 16 (84%)
  • Little or no AI speed-up: 2 (11%)
  • Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Negotiate, renegotiate, and administer contracts with suppliers, vendors, and other representatives.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Maintain and review computerized or manual records of purchased items, costs, deliveries, product performance, and inventories.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Confer with staff, users, and vendors to discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services and determine corrective action.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Evaluate and monitor contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and to determine need for changes.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and resolve problems related to undelivered goods.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Study sales records and inventory levels of current stock to develop strategic purchasing programs that facilitate employee access to supplies.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Review catalogs, industry periodicals, directories, trade journals, and Internet sites and consult with other department personnel to locate necessary goods and services.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Monitor changes affecting supply and demand, tracking market conditions, price trends, or futures markets.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
  • Interview vendors and visit suppliers' plants and distribution centers to examine and learn about products, services, and prices.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Arrange the payment of duty and freight charges.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
  • Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
  • Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Other jobs in this field

Business and Financial Operations occupations close to this one.

Questions about purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products and AI

Will AI replace purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products?

Not entirely. Parts of the job are likely to change as AI takes over routine tasks. Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products score 47 out of 100 (elevated exposure), #299 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 17 of the job's 19 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 2 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased".

Which purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters"; "Attend meetings, trade shows, conferences, conventions, and seminars to network with people in other purchasing departments".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 9 of the 19 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products, and what do they earn?

About 491,430 people in the US (figure for Buyers and Purchasing Agents), with median pay of $77,710 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

The weekly exposure report

Know what's changing before it reaches your job.

One short email a week: which jobs are most exposed, the research worth knowing about, and one practical step you can take.

Free · one email a week · unsubscribe anytime