Purchasing Manager
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
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.
Also called: Category Purchasing Manager · Commodity Manager · Materials Director · Materials Manager · Procurement Director · Procurement Manager · Purchasing Director · Purchasing Manager
O*NET-SOC 11-3061.00 (Purchasing Managers)
Purchasing Manager salary
Wages for purchasing managers across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $71.19.
Purchasing Manager pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $99,560 | $159,830 | $241,340 |
| Texas | $86,340 | $134,670 | $212,340 |
| Florida | $76,460 | $133,410 | $211,410 |
| New York | $102,800 | $166,300 | $282,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,480 | $141,790 | $213,390 |
| Illinois | $100,990 | $153,370 | $225,450 |
| Ohio | $93,780 | $134,580 | $216,800 |
| Georgia | $91,560 | $155,360 | $250,120 |
| North Carolina | $94,240 | $138,710 | $219,150 |
| Michigan | $96,530 | $142,120 | $214,780 |
Purchasing Manager job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 88,300 jobs in 2025 to 91,800 in 2035 (4% change).
- About 6,400 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Average.
How to become a purchasing manager
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more work experience
- On-the-job training
- No on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma1.1%
- High school diploma or equivalent11.2%
- Some college, no degree14.8%
- Associate's degree8%
- Bachelor's degree39.2%
- Master's degree22.3%
- Doctoral or professional degree3.3%
Related training programs
- Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
What does a purchasing manager do?
Common 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.
- Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
- Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans.
Most important skills
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
- Time Management
- Managing your time and the time of other people.
- Negotiation
- Bringing people together to solve differences.
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
Purchasing Manager certifications
8 of 27 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Federal Acquisition Institute · Advanced
- SAP America, Inc. · Product/Equipment
- NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP)NIGP The Institute for Public Procurement · Advanced
- Next Level Purchasing Association · Core
- National Association of Purchasing Card Professionals · Core
- American Purchasing Society · Advanced
- Next Level Purchasing Association · Specialty
- Universal Public Procurement Certification Council · Core
See all 27certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Purchasing Manager jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more contracting & acquisition jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Contracting & Acquisition jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Procurement Clerks
- Contract Specialist
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistician
- Supply Chain Manager
- Sales Managers
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Marketing Manager
- Management Analyst
More contracting & acquisition careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Purchasing Managers. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.