Purchasing managers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $92,490 | $44.47 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $148,080 | $71.19 |
| Mean (average) | $156,360 | $75.17 |
| 90th percentile | $223,280 | $107.35 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Purchasing managers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $130,710 | $77,990 | $188,140 | 1,520 | 1.32 |
| Alaska | $114,650 | $80,420 | $160,650 | 140 | 0.8 |
| Arizona | $138,940 | $97,810 | $211,510 | 1,630 | 0.93 |
| Arkansas | $156,450 | $74,290 | $273,100 | 930 | 1.32 |
| California | $159,830 | $99,560 | $241,340 | 7,470 | 0.76 |
| Colorado | $171,250 | $122,790 | $247,610 | 1,320 | 0.85 |
| Connecticut | $138,680 | $99,440 | $218,460 | 1,420 | 1.54 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 150 | 0.59 | ||
| District of Columbia | $175,720 | $147,220 | $195,190 | 1,110 | 2.92 |
| Florida | $133,410 | $76,460 | $211,410 | 3,960 | 0.74 |
| Georgia | $155,360 | $91,560 | $250,120 | 3,430 | 1.29 |
| Guam | $80,290 | $60,330 | $145,270 | 40 | 1.17 |
| Hawaii | $113,490 | $82,200 | $173,310 | 220 | 0.66 |
| Idaho | $136,970 | $79,790 | $207,010 | 270 | 0.59 |
| Illinois | $153,370 | $100,990 | $225,450 | 4,160 | 1.26 |
| Indiana | $126,880 | $80,270 | $192,260 | 1,190 | 0.69 |
| Iowa | $121,580 | $81,500 | $197,010 | 610 | 0.72 |
| Kansas | $159,850 | $101,890 | $221,670 | 920 | 1.19 |
| Kentucky | $124,350 | $76,770 | $174,690 | 920 | 0.85 |
| Louisiana | $109,630 | $77,870 | $179,000 | 470 | 0.45 |
| Maine | $135,970 | $88,400 | $189,970 | 170 | 0.48 |
| Maryland | $161,470 | $102,900 | $199,950 | 2,380 | 1.59 |
| Massachusetts | $170,750 | $105,500 | $266,990 | 2,160 | 1.1 |
| Michigan | $142,120 | $96,530 | $214,780 | 2,780 | 1.16 |
| Minnesota | $144,810 | $95,200 | $216,480 | 1,340 | 0.84 |
| Mississippi | $122,940 | $68,690 | $174,820 | 320 | 0.51 |
| Missouri | $132,100 | $80,080 | $205,880 | 960 | 0.6 |
| Montana | $123,480 | $78,800 | $186,280 | 160 | 0.59 |
| Nebraska | $124,010 | $77,690 | $183,930 | 440 | 0.79 |
| Nevada | $120,270 | $76,680 | $184,850 | 450 | 0.53 |
| New Hampshire | $162,900 | $104,010 | $214,710 | 540 | 1.46 |
| New Jersey | $174,520 | $117,660 | $285,280 | 3,430 | 1.47 |
| New Mexico | $134,790 | $94,710 | $192,480 | 240 | 0.5 |
| New York | $166,300 | $102,800 | $282,360 | 6,930 | 1.32 |
| North Carolina | $138,710 | $94,240 | $219,150 | 2,670 | 1 |
| North Dakota | $130,110 | $85,770 | $191,620 | 50 | 0.22 |
| Ohio | $134,580 | $93,780 | $216,800 | 3,490 | 1.16 |
| Oklahoma | $119,310 | $78,560 | $173,930 | 480 | 0.52 |
| Oregon | $137,190 | $92,560 | $213,110 | 980 | 0.92 |
| Pennsylvania | $141,790 | $84,480 | $213,390 | 2,530 | 0.77 |
| Puerto Rico | $89,600 | $52,330 | $166,130 | 280 | 0.56 |
| Rhode Island | $134,560 | $98,410 | $206,980 | 220 | 0.82 |
| South Carolina | $131,720 | $83,210 | $201,790 | 830 | 0.66 |
| South Dakota | $128,670 | $95,100 | $187,190 | 70 | 0.26 |
| Tennessee | $137,060 | $90,340 | $228,230 | 1,460 | 0.82 |
| Texas | $134,670 | $86,340 | $212,340 | 9,640 | 1.26 |
| Utah | $125,940 | $83,620 | $186,710 | 510 | 0.54 |
| Vermont | $135,720 | $94,240 | $179,360 | 90 | 0.56 |
| Virginia | $166,230 | $109,270 | $222,230 | 3,540 | 1.59 |
| Washington | $162,730 | $112,120 | $220,350 | 1,770 | 0.92 |
| West Virginia | $147,220 | $89,080 | $194,410 | 180 | 0.47 |
| Wisconsin | $124,990 | $81,510 | $201,990 | 1,610 | 1.01 |
| Wyoming | $123,380 | $87,530 | $170,820 | 40 | 0.26 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for purchasing managers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 6,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for purchasing managers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
- Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
- Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
- Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
- Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
- Administer online purchasing systems.
- Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- SAP software (in demand)
- Purchasing software (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- Automated purchase order software
- Bottomline Technologies Bottomline Sprinter Purchasing Manager
- Bowen & Groves M1 ERP
Transferable skills for career changers: Management of Personnel Resources, Social Perceptiveness, Negotiation, Time Management, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Category Purchasing Manager, Commodity Manager, Materials Director, Materials Manager, Procurement Director, Procurement Manager, Purchasing Director, Purchasing Manager, Purchasing Supervisor, Strategic Sourcing Director.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do purchasing managers make?
The national median annual wage for purchasing managers was $148,080 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $92,490 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $223,280. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do purchasing managers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with 5 years or more of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is purchasing managers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of purchasing managers to change +4.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 6,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay purchasing managers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($175,720), New Jersey ($174,520), Colorado ($171,250). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.