Purchasing Managers
SOC code 11-3061 · O*NET-SOC 11-3061.00 · Considerable preparation needed
Purchasing Managers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$148,080
a year
Hourly
$71.19
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$156,360
$75.17 per hour
Middle 50%
$115,550 – $182,270
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$92,490 – $223,280
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
84,320
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $92,490
- $44.47/hr
- 25th percentile
- $115,550
- $55.55/hr
- Median percentile
- $148,080
- $71.19/hr
- 75th percentile
- $182,270
- $87.63/hr
- 90th percentile
- $223,280
- $107.35/hr
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a purchasing manager
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 53% 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 Degree53%
- Post-Secondary Certificate16%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11%
- Master's Degree11%
Common questions
How much does a purchasing manager earn?
The national median is $148,080 a year. The full range runs from $92,490 at the 10th percentile to $223,280 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 manager 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
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.0/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Law and Government3.8/5
- Economics and Accounting3.7/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Administrative3.4/5
Transferable strengths: Management of Personnel Resources, Social Perceptiveness, Negotiation, Time Management.