NOC 62101: Retail and wholesale buyers
What retail and wholesale buyers do
Retail and wholesale buyers buy merchandise for resale by retail or wholesale establishments and are usually responsible for the merchandising operations of retail or wholesale establishments. Retail and wholesale buyers who are supervisors and those who are assistants are included in this unit group.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Purchase merchandise for resale by retail or wholesale establishments
- Review requirements of establishment and determine quantity and type of merchandise to purchase
- Study market reports, trade periodicals and sales promotion materials and visit trade shows, showrooms, factories and product design events
- Select the merchandise which best fits the establishment's requirements
- Interview suppliers and negotiate prices, discounts, credit terms and transportation arrangements
- Oversee distribution of merchandise to outlets and maintain adequate stock levels
- Establish and maintain contact with suppliers
- May supervise the work of other retail buyers.
- Retail and wholesale buyers may specialize in a particular merchandise line.
Job titles under NOC 62101
32 job titles are classified here, including appliance buyer, assistant buyer, beverage taster and buyer.
- appliance buyer
- assistant buyer
- beverage taster and buyer
- buyer - retail
- buyer - wholesale
- buyers supervisor
- cattle buyer
- chief buyer
- chief buyer - retail or wholesale
- clothing buyer
- food buyer
- fruit buyer
- fur buyer
- hardware buyer
- hog buyer
- livestock buyer
- log buyer
- lumber buyer
- meat buyer
- merchandiser
- perishable food buyer
- pharmaceuticals buyer
- produce buyer
- retail buyer
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A university degree or college diploma in business, marketing or a related program is usually required.
- Previous work experience in retail or wholesale establishments is usually required.
- Supervisors and senior buyers require experience in the occupation supervised or in a particular merchandise line.
Retail and wholesale buyers wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $19.23/hr | $30.00/hr | $48.08/hr |
Toronto ON | $19.23/hr | $30.00/hr | $48.72/hr |
Montréal QC | $20.00/hr | $32.00/hr | $50.97/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $18.00/hr | $31.73/hr | $47.60/hr |
Calgary AB | $19.23/hr | $28.73/hr | $38.46/hr |
Edmonton AB | $19.23/hr | $28.73/hr | $38.46/hr |
Ottawa ON | $20.00/hr | $29.81/hr | $45.67/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $18.70/hr | $24.04/hr | $48.08/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $20.00/hr | $32.00/hr | $50.97/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $18.82/hr | $26.18/hr | $40.07/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $20.00/hr | $29.81/hr | $45.67/hr |
London ON | $17.60/hr | $27.98/hr | $38.31/hr |
Halifax NS | $17.33/hr | $23.52/hr | $35.53/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $20.80/hr | $29.18/hr | $35.00/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $15.35/hr | $32.00/hr | $48.08/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $17.32/hr | $25.82/hr | $39.74/hr |
Nova Scotia | $16.50/hr | $22.61/hr | $38.96/hr |
New Brunswick | $19.23/hr | $23.00/hr | $61.54/hr |
Quebec | $20.00/hr | $32.00/hr | $50.97/hr |
Ontario | $20.00/hr | $29.81/hr | $45.67/hr |
Manitoba | $18.70/hr | $24.04/hr | $48.08/hr |
Saskatchewan | $16.15/hr | $32.00/hr | $48.08/hr |
Alberta | $19.23/hr | $28.73/hr | $38.46/hr |
British Columbia | $20.00/hr | $30.77/hr | $47.60/hr |
Using NOC 62101 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 32 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Procurement and purchasing agents and officers (NOC 12102)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for retail and wholesale buyers?
Retail and wholesale buyers are NOC 2021 unit group 62101. Example job titles in this group include appliance buyer, assistant buyer, beverage taster and buyer, buyer - retail.
What TEER is NOC 62101?
NOC 62101 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do retail and wholesale buyers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $30.00/hr, about $59,000 a year full-time, with a range of $19.23/hr to $48.08/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.