CareerFacts

All careers › Buyers and Purchasing Agents

Purchasing agent: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$77,710median pay per year, or $37.36 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $48,380lowest 10% earn less
  2. $60,80025th percentile
  3. $77,710median
  4. $100,82075th percentile
  5. $128,870top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for a purchasing agent was $77,710 a year[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 6% over ten years[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+6%[2]
Openings per year
47,200[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do purchasing agents make?

BLS calls this group Buyers and Purchasing Agents. The median wage was $77,710 a year, or $37.36 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $83,770 a year, or $40.27 an hour[7].

For comparison, the median for all occupations in the US was $50,980 a year[4].

The range is wide. A percentile is a boundary, so the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,380[3][8]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][9] $48,380 $23.26
25th percentile[3][9] $60,800 $29.23
Median[1] $77,710 $37.36
75th percentile[3][9] $100,820 $48.47
90th percentile[3][9] $128,870 $61.96

These figures cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median at $124,090, followed by New Jersey at $93,250 and Maryland at $90,900[11].

California had the most jobs at 48,010 and a median of $82,720[11][12]. Texas was next with 44,030 jobs and a median of $76,050[11][12]. New York had 31,240 jobs and a median of $79,460[11][12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Lexington Park, MD had the highest median at $111,530, then the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area at $104,880 and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $101,500[13]. The New York metro area had the most jobs at 29,360, with a median of $83,350[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[11]$124,0901,880
New Jersey$93,25012,180
Maryland$90,9008,900
Virginia$89,21022,120
Rhode Island$86,240n/a
Massachusetts$85,97012,820
Washington$85,13015,400
Colorado$83,59010,080
Alaska$83,460890
Connecticut$83,0305,530
Delaware$82,9201,400
California$82,72048,010
Minnesota$80,37010,960
New York$79,46031,240
Illinois$78,47019,660
Maine$77,6301,180
New Hampshire$77,2702,580
New Mexico$76,7402,250
Ohio$76,41021,640
North Dakota$76,400880
Texas$76,05044,030
Michigan$75,90016,680
North Carolina$75,88014,290
Arkansas$75,8704,510
West Virginia$75,6701,130
South Carolina$75,5506,150
Arizona$75,34010,870
Oregon$75,0507,090
Nebraska$74,9502,850
Utah$74,5404,090
Georgia$74,53015,710
Hawaii$74,2401,720
Alabama$74,0308,960
South Dakota$73,9901,180
Pennsylvania$73,55017,430
Nevada$72,9902,310
Florida$72,85030,270
Wyoming$72,200570
Mississippi$71,8502,240
Oklahoma$71,8504,750
Wisconsin$70,8809,240
Iowa$70,3604,570
Kansas$69,5006,470
Indiana$69,35010,720
Idaho$69,2401,610
Louisiana$66,3403,440
Missouri$65,6508,070
Tennessee$65,43011,420
Vermont$65,3301,010
Kentucky$65,2405,440
Montana$62,8501,230

How to become a purchasing agent

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry, with no work experience in a related occupation and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].

The details below come from a BLS handbook profile that covers purchasing managers, buyers and purchasing agents together, so it describes a wider group[15].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers in the group that excludes wholesale, retail and farm products, 65% said a bachelor's degree is required, 15% a high school diploma or equivalent, 10% an associate's degree and 10% a post-baccalaureate certificate[21].

What purchasing agents do

O*NET splits the job into three types. Some buy farm products, some buy goods for resale at the wholesale or retail level, and some buy equipment, supplies, services or materials for a business[22][23][24]. Any of them may negotiate contracts[22][23][24]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

In the wider handbook group, most workers are in an office setting, and travel is sometimes needed to visit suppliers or review products[28]. Manufacturing was the largest employer group in 2025, with 22%[29]. About 3.4% of buyers and purchasing agents were self-employed[30].

Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[31]. For others, part-time work may be common[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 516,100 to 547,000 jobs, a gain of 30,800[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[32]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. The separate OEWS count for May 2025 was about 491,430 wage and salary jobs[33].

About 47,200 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.4% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 4.9% to move to a different occupation[34].

BLS lists one factor behind demand. As supply chains become more complex, more service contracts are needed[35].

Is it a good fit?

Pay was well above the all-occupations median, and projected growth is faster than average[1][4][2][32]. Entry usually calls for a bachelor's degree, followed by a few months of on-the-job training[6][18]. Typical tasks include comparing suppliers, negotiating and managing contracts[25][26]. Pay also depends on where you work, as the state figures show[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a purchasing agent make an hour?
The median was $37.36 an hour and the average was $40.27 an hour in May 2025[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $23.26 and the 90th was $61.96[9].
What degree do you need to be a purchasing agent?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[6]. A handbook profile for the wider group says a high school diploma may be enough for some positions[16].
Is purchasing agent in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][32]. About 47,200 openings a year are projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for purchasing agents?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $124,090, then New Jersey at $93,250 and Maryland at $90,900[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Buyers and Purchasing Agents in the US was $77,710 per year and $37.36 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Buyers and Purchasing Agents is projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 516,100 to 547,000 jobs (a change of +30,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Buyers and Purchasing Agents: 10th percentile $48,380, 25th percentile $60,800, 75th percentile $100,820, 90th percentile $128,870. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 47,200 openings for Buyers and Purchasing Agents are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Buyers and Purchasing Agents: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Buyers and Purchasing Agents was $83,770 per year and $40.27 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Buyers and Purchasing Agents: 10th percentile $23.26, 25th percentile $29.23, 75th percentile $48.47, 90th percentile $61.96. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Buyers and Purchasing Agents in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Buyers and Purchasing Agents jobs: California 48,010; Texas 44,030; New York 31,240; Florida 30,270; Virginia 22,120. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Buyers and Purchasing Agents (areas with at least 100 jobs): Lexington Park, MD $111,530; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $104,880; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $101,500; Warner Robins, GA $100,120; Peoria, IL $96,880; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $95,970; Huntsville, AL $94,990; Kennewick-Richland, WA $94,790. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Buyers and Purchasing Agents jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 29,360 (median $83,350); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 18,270 (median $82,500); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 14,260 (median $78,510); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 14,240 (median $104,880); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 14,160 (median $79,420); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 10,880 (median $76,290). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents" covers Buyers and Purchasing Agents together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 13-1023.00 (Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products) survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 65%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 15%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 10%, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET description of Buyers and Purchasing Agents. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Buyers and Purchasing Agents. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Buyers and Purchasing Agents. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Buyers and Purchasing Agents. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Buyers and Purchasing Agents. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Buyers and Purchasing Agents. O*NET OnLine
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents in 2025: Manufacturing 22%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 3.4% of Buyers and Purchasing Agents were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 491,430 people were employed as Buyers and Purchasing Agents in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Buyers and Purchasing Agents: 3.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Buyers and Purchasing Agents: Demand change - share increases as supply chains become more complex and additional service contracts are needed. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.