Purchasing and Inventory Control Workers
(NOC 1524)
in All Business, Finance, and AdministrationPurchasing and inventory control workers process purchasing transactions and maintain inventories of materials, equipment and stock. They work for retail and wholesale companies, manufacturing companies, government agencies and other organizations.
Job Outlook
Average
Read more
Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
Hourly Pay
$15.90
Minimum$23.80
Median$41.76
MaximumAnnual Pay
$6,376
Minimum$31,771
Median$58,699
MaximumCompared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
Hourly Pay
$15.00
Minimum$23.00
Median$38.50
MaximumAnnual Pay
$6,754
Minimum$36,515
Median$70,271
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Purchasing and inventory control workers process purchasing transactions and maintain inventories of materials, equipment and stock. They work for retail and wholesale companies, manufacturing companies, government agencies and other organizations.
Job duties
Purchasing control workers:
- Review orders for accuracy and verify that materials, equipment and stock are not available from current inventories.
- Source and get price quotes from catalogues and suppliers and prepare purchase orders.
- Calculate cost of orders and charge or forward invoices to correct accounts.
- Process purchases within purchasing authority.
- Contact suppliers to schedule deliveries and to work out shortages, missed deliveries and other problems.
- Prepare and maintain purchasing files, reports and price lists.
Inventory control workers:
- Use inventory systems to monitor inventory levels as materials, equipment and stock are issued, transferred within an organization or sold to the public.
- Compile inventory reports, recording the quantity, type and value of materials, equipment and stock on hand, using manual or computerized inventory systems.
- Prepare orders to restock materials, equipment and stock.
- Maintain stock rotation and dispose of and account for outdated stock.
- Enter data for production scheduling, stock replacement/relocation and inventory adjustments.
- Reconcile physical inventories with computer counts.
Sample job titles
- inventory clerk
- inventory control clerk
- inventory planner
- procurement clerk
- purchase order clerk
- purchasing clerk
- purchasing clerk assistant
- purchasing control clerk
- supply clerk
Skills
- You must be organized and attentive to detail. Your work must be accurate. Good communication skills are important. You need to be able to work as part of a team. Computer skills and the ability to work with technology may be helpful.
Job requirements
- High school is usually required.
- Courses in purchasing management may be required for purchasing clerks.
- Courses in production and inventory management and ability to operate a computerized inventory system may be required for inventory clerks.
Other considerations
- The duties of purchasing and inventory clerks may overlap in some businesses. Movement to supervisor positions or more senior jobs like purchasing agent or retail buyer is possible with additional training or experience.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$32,051 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$29,545 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$39,596 median annual incomeSouthern
$24,276 median annual incomeCape Breton
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Retail trade
Wholesale trade
Public administration
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Manufacturing
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
15-24
65+
Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
65+
Top levels of education
High school
$30,505 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$33,179 median annual incomeBachelor
$25,825 median annual incomeLess than high school
$30,002 median annual incomeTrade Certification
N/ACompared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
College Diploma
$36,304 median annual incomeHigh school
$32,903 median annual incomeBachelor
$41,755 median annual incomeTrade Certification
$34,807 median annual incomeLess than high school
$23,174 median annual incomeEducation & training
High School Diploma or Equivalent
High School ProgramAdults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Various, NS
Various, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile