Purchasing Manager salary in California
Purchasing Managers in California earn a median of $159,830 a year ($76.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $99,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $241,340 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $148,080. California ranks 11th of 50 states for purchasing managers pay. There are 0.41 purchasing managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $165,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for purchasing managers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,560 | $47.86 |
| 25th percentile | $125,000 | $60.10 |
| Median | $159,830 | $76.84 |
| 75th percentile | $196,620 | $94.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $241,340 | $116.03 |
| Average (mean) | $165,780 | $79.70 |
Half of purchasing managers 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 period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,319.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,659.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,147.31 |
| Weekly | $3,073.65 |
| Hourly | $76.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Purchasing Manager salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $198,980 | 700 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $170,440 | 1,320 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $158,620 | 680 |
| Salinas, CA | $158,550 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $156,400 | 2,800 |
| Vallejo, CA | $153,670 | 50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $152,000 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $146,750 | 270 |
| Modesto, CA | $142,970 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $142,100 | 80 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $139,560 | 130 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $134,020 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,070 | 450 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $128,960 | 70 |
| Fresno, CA | $127,510 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for purchasing managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $175,720 |
| New Jersey | $174,520 |
| Colorado | $171,250 |
| Massachusetts | $170,750 |
| New York | $166,300 |
| Virginia | $166,230 |
| New Hampshire | $162,900 |
| Washington | $162,730 |
| Maryland | $161,470 |
| Kansas | $159,850 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $218,290 | $104.95 |
| Financial Manager | $180,770 | $86.91 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $123,780 | $59.51 |
| Human Resources Manager | $170,080 | $81.77 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Facilities Manager | $118,620 | $57.03 |
| Training and Development Managers | $156,260 | $75.13 |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $166,730 | $80.16 |
| General and Operations Managers | $124,390 | $59.81 |
| Sales Manager | $134,910 | $64.86 |
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Marketing Manager | $193,620 | $93.09 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-3061. 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 purchasing manager make in California?
The median salary for purchasing managers in California is $159,830 a year, or $76.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $99,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $241,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid purchasing managers make in California?
The top 10% of purchasing managers in California earn at least $241,340 a year. The top 25% earn $196,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for purchasing managers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $99,560 a year, and a quarter of purchasing managers earn $125,000 or less.
How many purchasing managers work in California?
About 7,470 purchasing managers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.