Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products
SOC code 13-1023 · O*NET-SOC 13-1023.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Business and finance
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$77,710
a year
Hourly
$37.36
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$83,770
$40.27 per hour
Middle 50%
$60,800 – $100,820
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$48,380 – $128,870
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
491,430
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Buyers and Purchasing Agents”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $48,380
- $23.26/hr
- 25th percentile
- $60,800
- $29.23/hr
- Median percentile
- $77,710
- $37.36/hr
- 75th percentile
- $100,820
- $48.47/hr
- 90th percentile
- $128,870
- $61.96/hr
What do purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products do?
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
- Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
- Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
- Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
- Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
- Hire, train, or supervise purchasing clerks, buyers, and expediters.
- Research and evaluate suppliers, based on price, quality, selection, service, support, availability, reliability, production and distribution capabilities, and the supplier's reputation and history.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 65% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree65%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)15%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree10%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate10%
Common questions
How much does a purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products earn?
The national median is $77,710 a year. The full range runs from $48,380 at the 10th percentile to $128,870 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Monitoring3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.6/5
- Law and Government4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Administrative3.6/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
- Computers and Electronics3.3/5
- Economics and Accounting3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Negotiation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.