Buyer and Purchasing Agent Salary in Philadelphia, PA
Buyers and Purchasing Agents in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area earn a median $81,470 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,643 take-home, or $5,304 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median buyer and purchasing agent salary in Philadelphia, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,093
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,051
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,181
- Pennsylvania income tax$2,501
- Take-home pay$63,643
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.07% state
Living in Philadelphia? City residents also pay Philadelphia’s Resident Wage Tax — about $3,047 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $60,596 ($5,050 a month). Choose “Philadelphia” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Buyer and Purchasing Agent pay by experience in Philadelphia, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,030 | $25.01 | $42,389 | $3,532 |
| 25th percentile | $65,190 | $31.34 | $52,559 | $4,380 |
| Median (50th) | $81,470 | $39.17 | $63,643 | $5,304 |
| 75th percentile | $107,410 | $51.64 | $81,095 | $6,758 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,600 | $63.27 | $97,174 | $8,098 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,470 buys in Philadelphia, PA
Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.13× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median buyer and purchasing agent's $63,643 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,058 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Buyer and Purchasing Agent jobs are about as common in Philadelphia, PA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for buyers and purchasing agents, adjusted for cost of living
Philadelphia, PA ranks #21 of 41 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dayton, OH | $94,520 | $73,508 | $79,302 |
| 2 | Huntsville, AL | $94,990 | $71,171 | $76,469 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $104,880 | $76,667 | $70,411 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $95,970 | $76,345 | $68,697 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $79,550 | $64,793 | $68,408 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $101,500 | $73,706 | $66,749 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $77,070 | $61,712 | $64,708 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $77,150 | $61,766 | $64,697 |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $81,470 | $63,643 | $62,058 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 41 metros →
About the job: buyers and purchasing agents
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Buyer and Purchasing Agent salaries elsewhere in Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, PA — $69,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a buyer and purchasing agent make in Philadelphia, PA?
The median buyer and purchasing agent salary in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $81,470 a year, or about $39.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,190 and $107,410.
What is a buyer and purchasing agent’s take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA?
On the median $81,470 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $63,643 a year ($5,304 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,501 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Philadelphia, PA a good place to work as a buyer and purchasing agent?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $77,710. Local prices are 2.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,058 would in a typical U.S. city. Philadelphia, PA ranks #21 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a buyer and purchasing agent afford rent in Philadelphia, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Philadelphia, PA is $1,520 a month ($1,810 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median buyer and purchasing agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Philadelphia, PA
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- Project Management Specialist — $104,160
- Management Analyst — $100,920
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $95,400
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $86,900
- Logistician — $86,900
- Accountant and Auditor — $85,990
- Financial Specialists, All Other — $84,680
- Insurance Underwriter — $84,580
- Compliance Officer — $83,000
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $81,560
- Cost Estimator — $79,880