Purchasing Managers earn a median of $148,080 per year ($71.19/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.0% through 2035, with about 6,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-3061
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Purchasing Manager in four numbers
- Median pay
- $148,080a year, or $71.19/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $92KTop 10% $223K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.0%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,40088,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202588.3K
- Projected 203591.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 88.3K Projected 2035 91.8K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school5.3%
- Certificate15.8%
- Some college5.3%
- Associate's10.5%
- Bachelor's52.6%
- Master's10.5%
Highest education held by purchasing managers Segment Value High school 5.3% Certificate 15.8% Some college 5.3% Associate's 10.5% Bachelor's 52.6% Master's 10.5%
Also advertised as: Category Purchasing Manager, Commodity Manager, Materials Director, Materials Manager, Procurement Director, Procurement Manager.
Pay
How much do Purchasing Managers make?
Every purchasing manager in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$148,080
Middle half earn $115,550 to $182,270
- 10th
- $92,490
- 25th
- $115,550
- 75th
- $182,270
- 90th
- $223,280
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,490 |
| 25th | $115,550 |
| Median | $148,080 |
| 75th | $182,270 |
| 90th | $223,280 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $148,080
- Median hourly wage
- $71.19/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $156,360
- People employed
- 84,320
Versus all US occupations
At $148,080, Purchasing Managers earn 190% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $97,100 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 17% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $223,280 or more while the bottom 10% earn $92,490, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 92% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
District of Columbia posts the highest raw median ($175,720), but once local prices are taken into account Arkansas leads at $179,958 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Purchasing Managers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $175,720 | $159,889 | 1,110 |
| 2New Jersey | $174,520 | $160,397 | 3,430 |
| 3Colorado | $171,250 | $166,178 | 1,320 |
| 4Massachusetts | $170,750 | $161,455 | 2,160 |
| 5New York | $166,300 | $154,094 | 6,930 |
| 6Virginia | $166,230 | $164,415 | 3,540 |
| 7New Hampshire | $162,900 | $156,387 | 540 |
| 8Washington | $162,730 | $152,066 | 1,770 |
| 9Maryland | $161,470 | $153,841 | 2,380 |
| 10Kansas | $159,850 | $177,477 | 920 |
Job outlook
Is Purchasing Manager a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +4.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Purchasing Managers | +4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Purchasing Managers to change 4.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 3,500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,400 openings are projected each year, 7.2% of the 88,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents will continue to be needed to help procure goods and services for business operations and for resale to customers. They also will be needed to oversee complex supply chains and to negotiate and manage contracts with suppliers. Organizations continue to automate some procurement tasks and integrate artificial intelligence (AI), making their procurement activities more efficient.
In the public sector, employment demand may be impacted by the continued use of cooperative purchasing agreements. These agreements allow government agencies to share resources to buy supplies, which may limit the need for procurement officers.
Getting in
How to become a Purchasing Manager
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents typically need a bachelor’s degree, although some employers hire candidates who have a high school diploma. Purchasing managers also need several years of related work experience.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
5 years or more
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as purchasing managers.
- Bachelor's Degree52.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate15.8%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree10.5%
- Master's Degree10.5%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)5.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 52.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 15.8% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 10.5% |
| Master's Degree | 10.5% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 5.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Purchasing Manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.
Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. They evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and review the quality of products. Purchasing managers oversee the work of buyers and purchasing agents and typically handle more complex procurement tasks.
Day-to-day tasks
- Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
- Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
- Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
- Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans.
- Control purchasing department budgets.
- Analyze market and delivery systems to assess present and future material availability.
- Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
- Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week. For others, part-time work may be common.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where purchasing managers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Manufacturing22%
- Wholesale trade14%
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals13%
- Management of companies and enterprises8%
- Retail trade7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22% |
| Wholesale trade | 14% |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 13% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 8% |
| Retail trade | 7% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Writing3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Active Learning3.3
- Mathematics3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Management of Personnel Resources4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Negotiation3.9
- Time Management3.9
- Coordination3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Persuasion3.6
- Service Orientation3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Management of Personnel Resources | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Negotiation | 3.9 |
| Time Management | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.6 |
| Service Orientation | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software
- Calendar and scheduling software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Purchasing Manager?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Purchasing Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 7 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising7.0
- Conventional6.0
- Social2.7
- Realistic2.5
- Investigative1.8
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Purchasing Manager
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Business and Financial Operations
Purchasing Agent, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
$77,710median a year
Most earn $48K to $129K
+6.0%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products
$77,710median a year
Most earn $48K to $129K
+6.0%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
More management careers
Median annual pay, with purchasing managers highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Purchasing Manager$148,080
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Purchasing Manager | $148,080 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Purchasing Manager appears on
Questions
Purchasing Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Purchasing Managers make?
Purchasing Managers earn a median of $148,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 190% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $71.19/hr. The middle half earn between $115,550 and $182,270. The top 10% earn $223,280 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Purchasing Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Purchasing Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect 5 years or more of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.6% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Purchasing Manager a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 4.0% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Purchasing Manager do?
Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations to use or resell. A core O*NET task: develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Purchasing Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Purchasing Managers are District of Columbia ($175,720), New Jersey ($174,520), Colorado ($171,250) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Arkansas moves to the top at $179,958.
What personality type suits a Purchasing Manager?
O*NET scores Purchasing Managers highest on the Enterprising and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.