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Buyers and Purchasing Agents salary in the U.S.

Buyers and Purchasing Agents in the U.S. earn a median of $77,710 a year ($37.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 491,430 workers.

Median salary
$77,710
Hourly
$37.36
Average
$83,770
Top 10% earn
$128,870
Workers
491,430

Pay ranges from $48,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,870 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $83,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.

Pay range for buyers and purchasing agents in the U.S.

$0$140,000
Pay levelYearlyHourly
10th percentile (entry level)$48,380$23.26
25th percentile$60,800$29.23
Median$77,710$37.36
75th percentile$100,820$48.47
90th percentile (top earners)$128,870$61.96
Average (mean)$83,770$40.27

Half of buyers and purchasing agents earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.

Median paycheck, before taxes

Pay periodAmount
Monthly$6,475.83
Semi-monthly (24 a year)$3,237.92
Biweekly (26 a year)$2,988.85
Weekly$1,494.42
Hourly$37.36

Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.

Buyers and Purchasing Agents salary by state

StateMedian salaryWorkers
District of Columbia$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
Guam$68,360250
Louisiana$66,3403,440
Missouri$65,6508,070
Tennessee$65,43011,420
Vermont$65,3301,010
Kentucky$65,2405,440
Montana$62,8501,230
Virgin Islands$52,48050
Puerto Rico$36,7504,390

Best-paying metro areas for buyers and purchasing agents

Metro areaMedian salaryWorkers
Lexington Park, MD$111,530730
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$104,88014,240
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$101,5003,380
Warner Robins, GA$100,120580
Peoria, IL$96,880720
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$95,9709,960
Huntsville, AL$94,9902,740
Kennewick-Richland, WA$94,790520
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$94,5202,850
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$94,2801,240
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$93,6006,300
Trenton-Princeton, NJ$93,060750
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$93,01010,090
Ogden, UT$89,6301,030
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL$89,170670

Metro areas with the most buyers and purchasing agents

Metro areaWorkersMedian salary
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ29,360$83,350
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA18,270$82,500
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN14,260$78,510
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV14,240$104,880
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX14,160$79,420
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX10,880$76,290
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA10,450$75,140
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH10,090$93,010
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA9,960$95,970
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD9,170$81,470
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ8,400$76,820
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL8,190$71,270
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI8,140$80,300
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI8,090$82,710
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA6,300$93,600

Related jobs in the U.S.

JobMedian salaryHourly
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$83,050$39.93
Project Management Specialist$102,320$49.19
Human Resources Specialist$75,940$36.51
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$78,760$37.87
Management Analyst$101,860$48.97
Training and Development Specialists$69,280$33.31
Compliance Officer$80,730$38.81
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,000$37.50
Logistician$82,320$39.58
Cost Estimator$78,740$37.86
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$61,160$29.41
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$78,210$37.60
Fundraiser$72,550$34.88
Labor Relations Specialist$95,420$45.87

More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1020. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a buyers and purchasing agents make in the U.S.?

The median salary for buyers and purchasing agents in the U.S. is $77,710 a year, or $37.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,380 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,870 for the top 10%.

How much do the highest-paid buyers and purchasing agents make in the U.S.?

The top 10% of buyers and purchasing agents in the U.S. earn at least $128,870 a year. The top 25% earn $100,820 or more.

What is the starting pay for buyers and purchasing agents in the U.S.?

Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,380 a year, and a quarter of buyers and purchasing agents earn $60,800 or less.

How many buyers and purchasing agents work in the U.S.?

About 491,430 buyers and purchasing agents are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.