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

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$148,080median pay per year, or $71.19 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $92,490lowest 10% earn less
  2. $115,55025th percentile
  3. $148,080median
  4. $182,27075th percentile
  5. $223,280top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Purchasing managers earned a median of $148,080 a year[1]. The job typically calls for a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of related work experience[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4%[5]
Openings per year
6,400[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[2]

How much do purchasing managers make?

The median pay for Purchasing Managers was $148,080 a year, or $71.19 an hour[1]. Half of the workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $156,360 a year, or $75.17 an hour[7].

The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[4].

The table shows annual and hourly wage points for May 2025.

Point Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][8] $92,490 $44.47
25th percentile[3][8] $115,550 $55.55
Median[1] $148,080 $71.19
75th percentile[3][8] $182,270 $87.63
90th percentile[3][8] $223,280 $107.35

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $92,490[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median wage at $175,720[11]. New Jersey ($174,520), Colorado ($171,250) and Massachusetts ($170,750) followed[11].

The most jobs were in Texas (9,640), California (7,470), New York (6,930), Illinois (4,160) and Florida (3,960)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $198,980[13]. Trenton-Princeton, NJ ($180,340) and Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO ($180,000) came next[13]. The New York metro area had the most jobs at 7,370, with a median of $171,810[14].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[11]$175,7201,110
New Jersey$174,5203,430
Colorado$171,2501,320
Massachusetts$170,7502,160
New York$166,3006,930
Virginia$166,2303,540
New Hampshire$162,900540
Washington$162,7301,770
Maryland$161,4702,380
Kansas$159,850920
California$159,8307,470
Arkansas$156,450930
Georgia$155,3603,430
Illinois$153,3704,160
West Virginia$147,220180
Minnesota$144,8101,340
Michigan$142,1202,780
Pennsylvania$141,7902,530
Arizona$138,9401,630
North Carolina$138,7102,670
Connecticut$138,6801,420
Oregon$137,190980
Tennessee$137,0601,460
Idaho$136,970270
Maine$135,970170
Vermont$135,72090
New Mexico$134,790240
Texas$134,6709,640
Ohio$134,5803,490
Rhode Island$134,560220
Florida$133,4103,960
Missouri$132,100960
South Carolina$131,720830
Alabama$130,7101,520
North Dakota$130,11050
South Dakota$128,67070
Indiana$126,8801,190
Utah$125,940510
Wisconsin$124,9901,610
Kentucky$124,350920
Nebraska$124,010440
Montana$123,480160
Wyoming$123,38040
Mississippi$122,940320
Iowa$121,580610
Nevada$120,270450
Oklahoma$119,310480
Alaska$114,650140
Hawaii$113,490220
Louisiana$109,630470

How to become a purchasing manager

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education for entry. It also lists 5 years or more of work experience in a related occupation, and no on-the-job training[2].

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

Some workers choose optional certification in procurement or supply chain management[21].

In an ONET survey of 19 workers, 53% said a bachelor's degree is required[22]. Smaller shares said a post-secondary certificate (16%), an associate's degree (11%), a master's degree (11%), a high school diploma (5%) or some college courses (5%)[22]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Four, which calls for considerable preparation[23].

What purchasing managers do

O*NET describes the job as planning and directing the work of buyers and other purchasing staff. It includes procurement managers and merchandising managers in wholesale or retail trade[24]. Common tasks include:

The wider BLS profile names analytical, communication, decision-making and interpersonal skills as important[26][27][28][29]. O*NET sample titles include Procurement Manager, Materials Manager and Purchasing Director[30].

Where they work

In the wider BLS group, most workers are in an office, and travel is sometimes needed to visit suppliers or review products[31]. Most work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week[32]. In the wider BLS group, manufacturing was the largest employer group at 23% of jobs[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4% between 2025 and 2035, rising from about 88,300 to 91,800 jobs[5]. Across all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[34]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, and 3.5% of them were self-employed in 2025[35].

About 6,400 openings are projected each year[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.4% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is far above the all-occupations median, and the range is wide[1][4][3]. The route in is longer than a degree alone, because BLS lists 5 years or more of related experience[2]. Growth is projected slightly above the all-occupations rate[5][34]. The job suits people who can spend years in buying or procurement roles first[18].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a purchasing manager make an hour?
The median was $71.19 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $75.17[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a purchasing manager?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education, along with 5 years or more of related work experience[2]. Business, finance or supply management may be helpful fields[16].
Is purchasing manager a growing job?
BLS projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[5][34]. About 6,400 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for purchasing managers?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $175,720[11]. Among the 50 states, New Jersey came first at $174,520[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Purchasing Managers in the US was $148,080 per year and $71.19 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Purchasing Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: 5 years or more; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Purchasing Managers: 10th percentile $92,490, 25th percentile $115,550, 75th percentile $182,270, 90th percentile $223,280. 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: employment of Purchasing Managers is projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 88,300 to 91,800 jobs (a change of +3,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,400 openings for Purchasing Managers 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
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Purchasing Managers was $156,360 per year and $75.17 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Purchasing Managers: 10th percentile $44.47, 25th percentile $55.55, 75th percentile $87.63, 90th percentile $107.35. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. 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
  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 Purchasing Managers 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 Purchasing Managers jobs: Texas 9,640; California 7,470; New York 6,930; Illinois 4,160; Florida 3,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Purchasing Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $198,980; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $180,340; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $180,000; Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $176,300; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $174,640; Peoria, IL $174,430; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $172,150; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $171,810. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Purchasing Managers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,370 (median $171,810); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 4,180 (median $172,150); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,400 (median $137,820); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 3,250 (median $155,080); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,800 (median $156,400); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,630 (median $139,050). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents" covers Purchasing Managers 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: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 11-3061.00 survey of workers (19 respondents), education level they say is required: Bachelor's Degree 53%, Post-Secondary Certificate 16%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 11%, Master's Degree 11%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 5%, Some College Courses 5% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET 11-3061.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Purchasing Managers. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Purchasing Managers. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. O*NET 11-3061.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Category Purchasing Manager, Commodity Manager, Materials Director, Materials Manager, Procurement Director, Procurement Manager, Purchasing Director, Purchasing Manager. O*NET OnLine
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents in 2025: Manufacturing 23%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections: 3.5% of Purchasing Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Purchasing Managers: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. 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.