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 ManagerProcurement ManagerPurchasing DirectorPurchasing 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

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
Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

Microsoft AccessMicrosoft DynamicsMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordOracle DatabaseOracle PeopleSoftSAP software

Technology Skills

Automated purchase order softwareBottomline Technologies Bottomline Sprinter Purchasing ManagerBowen & Groves M1 ERPCorel ParadoxDatabase softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareEpicor Vantage ERPIBM Lotus Notes

Tools & Equipment

10-key calculatorsDesktop computersPersonal computers