Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Purchasing Manager is a professional role in the Management job family, focused on Purchasing Manager work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Purchasing Managers do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
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.
Top skills:SpeakingManagement of Personnel ResourcesActive ListeningWritingTime ManagementSocial Perceptiveness
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Purchasing Manager salary by industry
Sectors 31, 32, and 33 – Manufacturing
20,100 workers
$152,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
16,750 workers
$185,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS
10,210 workers
$151,500
Wholesale Trade
10,070 workers
$156,000
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
7,400 workers
$179,500
Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation)
6,300 workers
$168,500
Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
3,460 workers
$133,500
Construction
2,940 workers
$143,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Purchasing Manager pays 18% above the average across 37 roles in the Management job family (family average $137,000).
The average base salary for a Purchasing Manager in the United States is $162,000 per year, or about $77.88 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $119,500 and $188,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Management roles?
The Management job family averages $137,000 across 37 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
