Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Buyers and purchasing agents play a key role in acquiring goods and services for organizations, supported by a national employment base of 522,000 workers. The national median annual salary of $75,650 highlights solid earning potential, with additional variation by state and metro area. The occupation is projected to grow 5.8%, indicating continued demand and a stable pipeline of opportunities. About 52,000 annual openings create room for new entrants as well as advancement for experienced professionals. This career typically requires a bachelor’s degree, along with strengths in project management, mathematics, problem solving and decision making, and critical and analytical thinking. Communication-focused skills such as speaking and listening, writing and reading, and customer service also feature prominently, alongside competencies in computers and information technology. For students, career changers, and established professionals, the combination of sizeable employment, projected growth, and a broad skill profile makes buyers and purchasing agents a viable option to consider.
The national median annual salary for buyers and purchasing agents is $75,650, with higher median pay in several top states and metro areas. Among the leading states by opportunity score, Massachusetts reports a median salary of $85,970, Washington $85,130, Colorado $83,590, and California $82,720, while New York is at $79,460. At the metro level, some markets stand out even more. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro shows a median salary of $104,880, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports $101,500. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH both have median salaries in the low-to-mid $90,000s, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ comes in at $83,350. Together, these figures show that earnings can vary meaningfully by location, giving workers options to target regions that align with their salary expectations.
Employment for buyers and purchasing agents stands at 522,000 nationally, indicating a sizable occupational group. Projected employment growth of 5.8% suggests that overall demand is expected to increase over time. In addition, there are about 52,000 annual openings, which can include positions created by growth as well as roles opened through turnover and retirements. This combination of an established employment base, positive projected growth, and recurring openings can be useful for individuals evaluating long-term career prospects. The same 5.8% growth rate is reflected in a variety of top states and metro areas, including California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, and leading metros such as San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, New York-Newark-Jersey City, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont. For career planners, these data points indicate that opportunities for buyers and purchasing agents are expected to continue across multiple regions.
Geography plays a significant role in career planning for buyers and purchasing agents. Among the top states by opportunity score, California leads with employment of 48,010 and a median salary of $82,720, along with an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York show higher median salaries of $85,970 and $79,460 respectively, with opportunity scores around 65–66. Colorado and Washington both offer median salaries above $83,000 and mid-50s opportunity scores. These figures suggest that both salary and employment levels vary by state. At the metro level, some areas stand out even more. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro has an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $101,500, while the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 29,360. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, each combining relatively high salaries with notable opportunity scores.
Buyers and purchasing agents typically need a bachelor’s degree, making this a career path that is accessible to individuals pursuing four-year college programs. Beyond formal education, the role relies on a broad mix of skills. Project management and leadership support organizing work and guiding initiatives, while mathematics, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making are central to evaluating options and making informed choices. Strong communication skills—including speaking and listening, writing and reading, and customer service—are also important, as they enable effective interaction with others. Competence with computers and information technology rounds out the technical side of the skill set, supporting modern workplace tools and processes. Adaptability is another key skill, helping workers adjust to changing circumstances. Collectively, these skills give students and career changers a clear picture of the capabilities to build alongside their bachelor’s degree when preparing for this occupation.
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