3551 Buyers and procurement officers

In short

• ONS unit group 3551, in minor group 355 (Sales, marketing and related associate professionals) and major group 3 (Associate professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): Transitional tables only: Table 1a, Table 2aa.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1a, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £35,500 (£18.21 per hour)
  • Table 2aa, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £29,300 (£15.03 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

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.

Typical entry routes

There are no formal academic requirements although some employers expect A levels/H grades, BTEC/SQA awards or degrees. Employers may ask for specific experience for a particular role. Professional qualifications and vocational qualifications in Procurement at levels 3, 4 and 5 are available.

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

Related job titles

• Bid writer
• Buyer
• Procurement officer
• Purchasing consultant
• Supply planner

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1a: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

3551 Buyers and procurement officers

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Buyers and procurement officers

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£35,500 (£18.21 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Table 2aa: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

3551 Buyers and procurement officers

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

3541

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Buyers and procurement officers

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£29,300 (£15.03 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Other unit groups in minor group 355

• 3552 Business sales executives
• 3553 Merchandisers
• 3554 Advertising and marketing associate professionals
• 3555 Estate agents and auctioneers
• 3556 Sales accounts and business development managers
• 3557 Events managers and organisers

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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