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  1. Occupations
  2. Purchasing Managers

Purchasing Managers

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.

SOC: 11-3061.00

Common Job Titles

  • Materials Manager
  • Procurement Manager
  • Purchasing Director
  • Purchasing Manager

Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Purchasing Managers (2024)

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

81,240

Wage Distribution by Percentile

Line chart of annual wages by percentile. U.S. is the solid line. 10th percentile: U.S. $85,500. 25th percentile: U.S. $107,430. 50th percentile: U.S. $139,510. 75th percentile: U.S. $175,460. 90th percentile: U.S. $219,140. Use the left and right arrow keys to move between percentiles.

  • U.S.
MetricU.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less$85,500
10% of workers earn the following or more$219,140
Workers on average earn$150,630

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

  • 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
Skills & Requirements: Knowledge

Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle Database
  • Oracle PeopleSoft
  • SAP software

Technology Skills

  • Automated purchase order software
  • Bottomline Technologies Bottomline Sprinter Purchasing Manager
  • Bowen & Groves M1 ERP
  • Corel Paradox
  • Database software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Epicor Vantage ERP
  • IBM Lotus Notes
Tools & Technology: Technology Skills

Tools & Equipment

  • 10-key calculators
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers

Related Occupations

Occupations with similar skills and knowledge requirements

Most Similar

  • Procurement Clerks 43-3061.00
  • Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products 13-1023.00
  • Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products 13-1022.00
  • Logistics Analysts 13-1081.02
  • Logisticians 13-1081.00

Moderately Similar

  • Sales Managers 11-2022.00
  • Supply Chain Managers 11-3071.04
  • Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers 11-3071.00
  • Marketing Managers 11-2021.00
  • Management Analysts 13-1111.00

Related

  • General and Operations Managers 11-1021.00
  • Buyers and Purchasing Agents, Farm Products 13-1021.00
  • Industrial Production Managers 11-3051.00
  • Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks 43-5061.00
  • Business Intelligence Analysts 15-2051.01
  • Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel 41-3091.00
  • Administrative Services Managers 11-3012.00
  • First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers 41-1012.00
  • Logistics Engineers 13-1081.01
  • First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 43-1011.00

Related Programs

Education programs that prepare you for this occupation

  • Short-Term CertificateLogistics, Distribution and PurchasingIssuer: Snead State Community College
  • Post-Baccalaureate CertificateFederal Contract & Procurement Management (Graduate Certificate)Issuer: University of Alabama in Huntsville
  • Micro-CredentialSupply Chain Management Future-Ready Procurement AcademyIssuer: The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
  • CertificationCertified Purchasing Professional (CPP)Issuer: American Purchasing Society
  • CertificationCertified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)Issuer: Institute for Supply Management
  • CertificationCertified in Transformation for Supply Chain (CTSC)Issuer: Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
  • Post-Baccalaureate CertificateProcurement & Contracts ManagementIssuer: University of Virginia-Main Campus
  • Post-Baccalaureate CertificatePublic Procurement and Contract ManagementIssuer: Old Dominion University
  • Master's DegreeAcquisition and Contract ManagementIssuer: University of Maryland Global Campus
  • Associate's DegreeSupply Chain ManagementIssuer: Greenville Technical College