Buyers and Purchasing Agents
Buyers and Purchasing Agents (SOC 13-1020) earn a median $77,710 a year ($37.36 an hour) in the United States, with 491,430 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What buyers and purchasing agents do
Buyers and purchasing agents acquire goods and services for organizations. The OEWS category combines three SOC occupations. Farm products buyers purchase farm products for processing or resale, as grain brokers, grain buyers, and tobacco buyers do. Wholesale and retail buyers choose merchandise for resale, studying past sales, prices, and quality, and authorizing payment under contracts. Purchasing agents outside those fields buy equipment, supplies, parts, services, and raw or semifinished materials that a manufacturer or other establishment needs to operate. Across all three, the work involves purchasing goods and services for an organization, and in each field the buyer may negotiate contracts. The category differs from purchasing managers, who supervise buyers and set procurement policy, and from sales representatives, who sell on the other side of the transaction. Wholesale and retail buyers may also meet with sales personnel and introduce new products.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Agriculture Industry Coordinator, Agriculture Industry Specialist, Buyer, Buying Agent, Cattle Broker.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.26 | $29.23 | $37.36 | $48.47 | $61.96 | $40.27 | 491,430 |
| Annual | $48,380 | $60,800 | $77,710 | $100,820 | $128,870 | $83,770 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where buyers and purchasing agents earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $33.61 | $44.73 | $59.66 | $69.56 | $87.65 | $58.95 | 1,880 | 2.68 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $69,910 | $93,040 | $124,090 | $144,680 | $182,310 | $122,620 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $30.00 | $36.07 | $44.83 | $55.98 | $67.66 | $46.82 | 12,180 | 2.84 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $62,400 | $75,030 | $93,250 | $116,430 | $140,730 | $97,390 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $27.07 | $32.87 | $43.70 | $59.28 | $71.49 | $46.66 | 8,900 | 3.22 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $56,310 | $68,370 | $90,900 | $123,300 | $148,700 | $97,050 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $24.69 | $31.30 | $42.89 | $57.88 | $71.71 | $45.72 | 22,120 | 5.38 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $51,350 | $65,100 | $89,210 | $120,390 | $149,150 | $95,090 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $25.00 | $32.00 | $41.46 | $43.88 | $58.54 | $40.78 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $52,000 | $66,570 | $86,240 | $91,260 | $121,760 | $84,820 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $25.33 | $31.80 | $39.77 | $51.68 | $64.57 | $43.70 | 48,010 | 2.64 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $52,690 | $66,150 | $82,720 | $107,490 | $134,310 | $90,900 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.96 | $28.59 | $36.56 | $46.99 | $59.68 | $38.86 | 44,030 | 3.13 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $47,760 | $59,470 | $76,050 | $97,730 | $124,140 | $80,830 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.91 | $31.04 | $38.20 | $49.09 | $63.50 | $41.90 | 31,240 | 3.23 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $51,820 | $64,560 | $79,460 | $102,100 | $132,080 | $87,150 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.10 | $26.22 | $35.02 | $46.70 | $59.10 | $37.52 | 30,270 | 3.05 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $45,970 | $54,540 | $72,850 | $97,130 | $122,930 | $78,050 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $24.69 | $31.30 | $42.89 | $57.88 | $71.71 | $45.72 | 22,120 | 5.38 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $51,350 | $65,100 | $89,210 | $120,390 | $149,150 | $95,090 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Lexington Park, MD | Hourly | $33.04 | $40.67 | $53.62 | $66.36 | $80.87 | $55.18 | 730 | 10.36 | 3.28 |
| Annual | $68,720 | $84,590 | $111,530 | $138,030 | $168,210 | $114,770 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $28.73 | $37.35 | $50.43 | $65.15 | $78.31 | $52.79 | 14,240 | 4.54 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $59,760 | $77,690 | $104,880 | $135,510 | $162,890 | $109,790 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $31.75 | $39.06 | $48.80 | $63.50 | $80.53 | $53.52 | 3,380 | 2.98 | 0.94 |
| Annual | $66,040 | $81,250 | $101,500 | $132,080 | $167,510 | $111,320 | ||||
| Warner Robins, GA | Hourly | $29.38 | $42.60 | $48.13 | $55.73 | $62.76 | $47.91 | 580 | 7.68 | 2.43 |
| Annual | $61,110 | $88,610 | $100,120 | $115,920 | $130,540 | $99,650 | ||||
| Peoria, IL | Hourly | $24.43 | $30.45 | $46.58 | $61.62 | $78.89 | $46.42 | 720 | 4.36 | 1.38 |
| Annual | $50,810 | $63,330 | $96,880 | $128,180 | $164,100 | $96,540 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $26.82 | $33.14 | $40.07 | $51.71 | $65.67 | $44.51 | 29,360 | 3.09 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $55,780 | $68,930 | $83,350 | $107,550 | $136,590 | $92,580 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $24.78 | $31.40 | $39.66 | $51.82 | $62.38 | $43.18 | 18,270 | 2.91 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $51,540 | $65,310 | $82,500 | $107,780 | $129,750 | $89,820 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $24.49 | $29.78 | $37.74 | $48.23 | $61.16 | $39.92 | 14,260 | 3.16 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $50,940 | $61,950 | $78,510 | $100,310 | $127,200 | $83,020 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $28.73 | $37.35 | $50.43 | $65.15 | $78.31 | $52.79 | 14,240 | 4.54 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $59,760 | $77,690 | $104,880 | $135,510 | $162,890 | $109,790 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $24.41 | $29.90 | $38.18 | $48.57 | $61.18 | $40.79 | 14,160 | 3.50 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $50,780 | $62,180 | $79,420 | $101,020 | $127,250 | $84,830 | ||||
Top industries employing buyers and purchasing agents
Management of Companies and Enterprises employ 9.4% of buyers and purchasing agents nationally (46,080 jobs) at a median $83,990 a year ($40.38 an hour), followed by Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (7.9%) and Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) (4.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 46,080 | 9.4% | $83,990 | $40.38 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 39,030 | 7.9% | $108,220 | $52.03 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) NAICS 4230A1 | 21,720 | 4.4% | $67,970 | $32.68 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 16,720 | 3.4% | $80,200 | $38.56 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 13,590 | 2.8% | $97,890 | $47.06 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (491,430). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $63,470 for buyers and purchasing agents in May 2021 and $77,710 in May 2025, with employment of 439,020 and 491,430.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $63,470 | $30.51 | 439,020 |
| May 2022 | $67,620 | $32.51 | 464,880 |
| May 2023 | $71,950 | $34.59 | 477,980 |
| May 2024 | $75,650 | $36.37 | 486,900 |
| May 2025 | $77,710 | $37.36 | 491,430 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $59.66 | $124,090 | $69,910 | $182,310 | 1,880 | 2.68 | 0.85 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $44.83 | $93,250 | $62,400 | $140,730 | 12,180 | 2.84 | 0.90 |
| 3 | Maryland profile | $43.70 | $90,900 | $56,310 | $148,700 | 8,900 | 3.22 | 1.02 |
| 4 | Virginia profile | $42.89 | $89,210 | $51,350 | $149,150 | 22,120 | 5.38 | 1.70 |
| 5 | Rhode Island profile | $41.46 | $86,240 | $52,000 | $121,760 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $41.33 | $85,970 | $49,500 | $145,890 | 12,820 | 3.53 | 1.12 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $40.93 | $85,130 | $58,260 | $137,980 | 15,400 | 4.34 | 1.37 |
| 8 | Colorado profile | $40.19 | $83,590 | $54,990 | $135,470 | 10,080 | 3.51 | 1.11 |
| 9 | Alaska profile | $40.13 | $83,460 | $60,860 | $132,730 | 890 | 2.74 | 0.87 |
| 10 | Connecticut profile | $39.92 | $83,030 | $51,790 | $132,410 | 5,530 | 3.26 | 1.03 |
| 11 | Delaware profile | $39.86 | $82,920 | $57,530 | $128,040 | 1,400 | 2.89 | 0.91 |
| 12 | California profile | $39.77 | $82,720 | $52,690 | $134,310 | 48,010 | 2.64 | 0.83 |
| 13 | Minnesota profile | $38.64 | $80,370 | $52,680 | $125,590 | 10,960 | 3.72 | 1.18 |
| 14 | New York profile | $38.20 | $79,460 | $51,820 | $132,080 | 31,240 | 3.23 | 1.02 |
| 15 | Illinois profile | $37.73 | $78,470 | $50,710 | $126,640 | 19,660 | 3.22 | 1.02 |
| 16 | Maine profile | $37.32 | $77,630 | $49,620 | $126,250 | 1,180 | 1.84 | 0.58 |
| 17 | New Hampshire profile | $37.15 | $77,270 | $52,840 | $125,500 | 2,580 | 3.77 | 1.19 |
| 18 | New Mexico profile | $36.90 | $76,740 | $47,670 | $127,820 | 2,250 | 2.58 | 0.82 |
| 19 | Ohio profile | $36.74 | $76,410 | $47,560 | $120,950 | 21,640 | 3.90 | 1.23 |
| 20 | North Dakota profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $52,630 | $106,070 | 880 | 2.05 | 0.65 |
| 21 | Texas profile | $36.56 | $76,050 | $47,760 | $124,140 | 44,030 | 3.13 | 0.99 |
| 22 | Michigan profile | $36.49 | $75,900 | $47,260 | $126,330 | 16,680 | 3.79 | 1.20 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $36.48 | $75,880 | $48,440 | $127,860 | 14,290 | 2.89 | 0.92 |
| 24 | Arkansas profile | $36.48 | $75,870 | $42,710 | $135,830 | 4,510 | 3.46 | 1.09 |
| 25 | West Virginia profile | $36.38 | $75,670 | $46,000 | $112,400 | 1,130 | 1.61 | 0.51 |
| 26 | South Carolina profile | $36.32 | $75,550 | $45,700 | $123,340 | 6,150 | 2.67 | 0.84 |
| 27 | Arizona profile | $36.22 | $75,340 | $49,790 | $117,900 | 10,870 | 3.36 | 1.06 |
| 28 | Oregon profile | $36.08 | $75,050 | $44,440 | $124,900 | 7,090 | 3.61 | 1.14 |
| 29 | Nebraska profile | $36.03 | $74,950 | $47,840 | $124,180 | 2,850 | 2.78 | 0.88 |
| 30 | Utah profile | $35.84 | $74,540 | $46,850 | $121,120 | 4,090 | 2.36 | 0.75 |
| 31 | Georgia profile | $35.83 | $74,530 | $48,070 | $129,000 | 15,710 | 3.21 | 1.02 |
| 32 | Hawaii profile | $35.69 | $74,240 | $47,920 | $120,270 | 1,720 | 2.75 | 0.87 |
| 33 | Alabama profile | $35.59 | $74,030 | $45,190 | $127,620 | 8,960 | 4.24 | 1.34 |
| 34 | South Dakota profile | $35.57 | $73,990 | $56,330 | $105,110 | 1,180 | 2.57 | 0.81 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania profile | $35.36 | $73,550 | $44,470 | $121,520 | 17,430 | 2.87 | 0.91 |
| 36 | Nevada profile | $35.09 | $72,990 | $50,120 | $104,730 | 2,310 | 1.49 | 0.47 |
| 37 | Florida profile | $35.02 | $72,850 | $45,970 | $122,930 | 30,270 | 3.05 | 0.96 |
| 38 | Wyoming profile | $34.71 | $72,200 | $46,340 | $109,650 | 570 | 2.02 | 0.64 |
| 39 | Mississippi profile | $34.54 | $71,850 | $43,370 | $117,960 | 2,240 | 1.93 | 0.61 |
| 40 | Oklahoma profile | $34.54 | $71,850 | $45,510 | $118,140 | 4,750 | 2.78 | 0.88 |
| 41 | Wisconsin profile | $34.08 | $70,880 | $47,530 | $102,720 | 9,240 | 3.14 | 0.99 |
| 42 | Iowa profile | $33.83 | $70,360 | $46,850 | $106,910 | 4,570 | 2.93 | 0.93 |
| 43 | Kansas profile | $33.41 | $69,500 | $46,150 | $117,810 | 6,470 | 4.50 | 1.42 |
| 44 | Indiana profile | $33.34 | $69,350 | $45,810 | $108,740 | 10,720 | 3.35 | 1.06 |
| 45 | Idaho profile | $33.29 | $69,240 | $47,830 | $108,890 | 1,610 | 1.88 | 0.60 |
| 46 | Louisiana profile | $31.90 | $66,340 | $45,080 | $112,380 | 3,440 | 1.78 | 0.56 |
| 47 | Missouri profile | $31.56 | $65,650 | $45,280 | $111,070 | 8,070 | 2.75 | 0.87 |
| 48 | Tennessee profile | $31.46 | $65,430 | $40,360 | $106,190 | 11,420 | 3.48 | 1.10 |
| 49 | Vermont profile | $31.41 | $65,330 | $45,230 | $166,520 | 1,010 | 3.32 | 1.05 |
| 50 | Kentucky profile | $31.36 | $65,240 | $42,600 | $105,370 | 5,440 | 2.72 | 0.86 |
| 51 | Montana profile | $30.22 | $62,850 | $41,690 | $100,420 | 1,230 | 2.40 | 0.76 |
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-1020 Buyers and Purchasing Agents.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-1021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-1022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-1023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-1021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.