Buyer and Purchasing Agent Salary in San Diego, CA
Buyers and Purchasing Agents in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $83,090 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,706 take-home, or $5,225 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median buyer and purchasing agent salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,450
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,152
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,205
- California income tax$3,498
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,080
- Take-home pay$62,706
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Buyer and Purchasing Agent pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,200 | $26.06 | $43,724 | $3,644 |
| 25th percentile | $66,750 | $32.09 | $52,793 | $4,399 |
| Median (50th) | $83,090 | $39.95 | $62,706 | $5,225 |
| 75th percentile | $108,060 | $51.95 | $77,625 | $6,469 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,150 | $64.50 | $92,967 | $7,747 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,090 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median buyer and purchasing agent's $62,706 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,044 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for buyers and purchasing agents, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #37 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 |
| 37 | San Diego, CA | $83,090 | $62,706 | $56,044 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $101,500
- San Francisco, CA — $93,600
- Los Angeles, CA — $82,500
- Riverside, CA — $75,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a buyer and purchasing agent make in San Diego, CA?
The median buyer and purchasing agent salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $83,090 a year, or about $39.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $66,750 and $108,060.
What is a buyer and purchasing agent’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $83,090 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $62,706 a year ($5,225 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,578 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a buyer and purchasing agent?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $77,710. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,044 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #37 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a buyer and purchasing agent afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 47% of a median buyer and purchasing agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Personal Financial Advisor — $130,330
- Project Management Specialist — $117,460
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $106,040
- Compliance Officer — $101,230
- Management Analyst — $101,190
- Logistician — $100,130
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $96,580
- Accountant and Auditor — $96,340
- Cost Estimator — $87,170
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $84,550
- Loan Officer — $81,770
- Human Resources Specialist — $81,300