Purchasing Manager, Buyer & Purchasing Agent
Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations. Purchasing managers oversee the work of buyers and purchasing agents.
What the job is
- The work
- Buyers and purchasing agents buy products and services for organizations. Purchasing managers oversee the work of buyers and purchasing agents.
BLS
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Purchasing managers and buyers and purchasing agents usually work in an office setting. Most work full time. Travel may be required.
BLS
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Careful negotiators who like comparing suppliers, prices and quality and keeping stock on track.
- Career cluster
- Supply Chain & Transportation
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents).
- Median pay
- $81,670 a year ($39.27 an hour)
BLS
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 604,400
- Typical entry
- Bachelor's degree
- Training after hire
- See How to Become One
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +6%, which BLS calls "faster than average"
BLS
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +34,400 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents typically need a bachelor’s degree, although some employers hire candidates who have a high school diploma. Purchasing managers also need several years of related work experience.
BLS
Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Purchasing managers, buyers and purchasing agents typically need a bachelor's degree, although some employers hire candidates with a high school diploma. Buyers train on the job for a few months; purchasing managers also need several years of related work experience.
- License
- None
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
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StateChoose a state
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- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Buyer, purchasing agent or purchasing manager: bachelor's degree, months of on-the-job training, years before manager
See the roadmap
Route 1: Degree → a few months of training → buyer or purchasing agent · Route 2: Buyer → assistant purchasing manager → purchasing manager
More careers in Supply Chain & Transportation
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.