$ PaycheckDecoded

Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Buyer and Purchasing Agent Salary

Buyers and Purchasing Agents earn a median $77,710 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations

U.S. median
$77,710
$37.36 per hour
Range
$48,380 – $128,870
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
491,430
across the U.S.
▲2.7%
Pay trend: The median for buyers and purchasing agents in the U.S. rose from $75,650 (May 2024) to $77,710 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

What buyers and purchasing agents do

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)
Openings per year
47,200
Self-employed
3%

Employment of buyers and purchasing agents is projected to grow 6.0% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 47,200 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Buyer and Purchasing Agent take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Buyer and Purchasing Agent
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$63,499
per year · effective tax rate 18.3%
$5,292Monthly
$2,646Twice a month
$2,442Every 2 weeks
$30.53Hourly
  • Federal income tax$8,266
  • Social Security (6.2%)$4,818
  • Medicare (1.45%)$1,127
  • Texas income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$63,499

Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)$48,380$23.26$41,053
25th percentile$60,800$29.23$51,033
Median (50th)$77,710$37.36$63,499
75th percentile$100,820$48.47$79,757
90th percentile (top earners)$128,870$61.96$99,349

Best cities for buyers and purchasing agents (after tax & cost of living)

#Metro areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Dayton, OH$94,520$73,508$79,3022,850
2Huntsville, AL$94,990$71,171$76,4692,740
3Washington, DC$104,880$76,667$70,41114,240
4Seattle, WA$95,970$76,345$68,6979,960
5San Antonio, TX$79,550$64,793$68,4083,780
6San Jose, CA$101,500$73,706$66,7493,380
7Cincinnati, OH$77,070$61,712$64,7084,240
8Columbus, OH$77,150$61,766$64,6974,200
9Providence, RI$84,590$65,784$64,6382,410
10Boston, MA$93,010$69,832$64,50010,090
11Austin, TX$77,150$63,105$64,3504,340
12Richmond, VA$82,370$62,855$64,2314,000
13Denver, CO$87,920$67,522$63,8316,160
14Cleveland, OH$74,350$59,873$63,7473,560
15Kansas City, MO$74,740$58,834$63,5754,270
16Houston, TX$76,290$62,500$63,36910,880
17Dallas, TX$79,420$64,702$62,76314,160
18Charlotte, NC$77,890$61,027$62,6894,250
19Virginia Beach, VA$79,380$60,924$62,2044,390
20Milwaukee, WI$76,800$60,169$62,0702,490
21Philadelphia, PA$81,470$63,643$62,0589,170
22Detroit, MI$80,300$62,159$61,9748,140
23Baltimore, MD$84,590$64,685$61,9074,360
24Orlando, FL$76,260$62,479$61,6054,570
25St. Louis, MO$73,280$57,876$60,8654,600

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Buyer and Purchasing Agent salary by state

StateMedian1-yr changeTake-homeRangeJobs
District of Columbia $124,090+5.2%$88,502 $69,910 – $182,3101,880
New Jersey $93,250+3.2%$70,681 $62,400 – $140,73012,180
Maryland $90,900+3.0%$68,824 $56,310 – $148,7008,900
Virginia $89,210+5.5%$67,274 $51,350 – $149,15022,120
Rhode Island $86,240+10.4%$66,883 $52,000 – $121,760—
Massachusetts $85,970+5.7%$65,231 $49,500 – $145,89012,820
Washington $85,130+4.0%$68,719 $58,260 – $137,98015,400
Colorado $83,590+4.3%$64,666 $54,990 – $135,47010,080
Alaska $83,460+7.2%$67,544 $60,860 – $132,730890
Connecticut $83,030+4.7%$64,250 $51,790 – $132,4105,530
Delaware $82,920+0.3%$63,033 $57,530 – $128,0401,400
California $82,720+4.0%$62,485 $52,690 – $134,31048,010
Minnesota $80,370−1.9%$61,429 $52,680 – $125,59010,960
New York $79,460+0.5%$61,036 $51,820 – $132,08031,240
Illinois $78,470+4.6%$60,294 $50,710 – $126,64019,660
Maine $77,630+11.5%$59,384 $49,620 – $126,2501,180
New Hampshire $77,270+3.3%$63,189 $52,840 – $125,5002,580
New Mexico $76,740+5.4%$60,376 $47,670 – $127,8202,250
Ohio $76,410+5.0%$61,266 $47,560 – $120,95021,640
North Dakota $76,400+12.2%$62,347 $52,630 – $106,070880
Texas $76,050+1.5%$62,331 $47,760 – $124,14044,030
Michigan $75,900+3.5%$59,251 $47,260 – $126,33016,680
North Carolina $75,880+6.6%$59,693 $48,440 – $127,86014,290
Arkansas $75,870+4.6%$59,458 $42,710 – $135,8304,510
West Virginia $75,670+4.3%$59,351 $46,000 – $112,4001,130
South Carolina $75,550−0.2%$58,604 $45,700 – $123,3406,150
Arizona $75,340+0.1%$60,157 $49,790 – $117,90010,870
Oregon $75,050+1.5%$55,890 $44,440 – $124,9007,090
Nebraska $74,950+9.7%$59,027 $47,840 – $124,1802,850
Utah $74,540+1.0%$58,881 $46,850 – $121,1204,090
Georgia $74,530+2.8%$58,017 $48,070 – $129,00015,710
Hawaii $74,240+9.1%$56,946 $47,920 – $120,2701,720
Alabama $74,030+8.5%$57,474 $45,190 – $127,6208,960
South Dakota $73,990+7.3%$60,882 $56,330 – $105,1101,180
Pennsylvania $73,550+3.4%$58,314 $44,470 – $121,52017,430
Nevada $72,990+5.3%$60,178 $50,120 – $104,7302,310
Florida $72,850+0.9%$60,080 $45,970 – $122,93030,270
Wyoming $72,200+1.5%$59,623 $46,340 – $109,650570
Mississippi $71,850+11.8%$57,234 $43,370 – $117,9602,240
Oklahoma $71,850+8.7%$56,689 $45,510 – $118,1404,750
Wisconsin $70,880+1.1%$56,318 $47,530 – $102,7209,240
Iowa $70,360+6.0%$56,306 $46,850 – $106,9104,570
Kansas $69,500+7.8%$54,645 $46,150 – $117,8106,470
Indiana $69,350+4.2%$55,601 $45,810 – $108,74010,720
Idaho $69,240+4.0%$54,979 $47,830 – $108,8901,610
Louisiana $66,340+3.4%$53,880 $45,080 – $112,3803,440
Missouri $65,650+3.4%$52,782 $45,280 – $111,0708,070
Tennessee $65,430+2.7%$54,753 $40,360 – $106,19011,420
Vermont $65,330+10.9%$52,821 $45,230 – $166,5201,010
Kentucky $65,240+4.0%$52,435 $42,600 – $105,3705,440
Montana $62,850+3.7%$50,483 $41,690 – $100,4201,230

Related jobs

JobMedian salaryEducationGrowth 2025–35
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,000High school diploma or equivalent-5.5%
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$78,210Bachelor's degree+6.0%
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage$78,240Postsecondary nondegree award-8.7%
Cost Estimator$78,740Bachelor's degree-3.1%
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist$78,760Bachelor's degree+7.0%
Human Resources Specialist$75,940Bachelor's degree+6.4%
Compliance Officer$80,730Bachelor's degree+3.8%
Logistician$82,320Bachelor's degree+17.6%
Fundraiser$72,550Bachelor's degree+5.5%
Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes$82,890Bachelor's degree+9.7%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a buyer and purchasing agent make?

The national median salary for buyers and purchasing agents is $77,710 a year ($37.36 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,380 and the top 10% earn over $128,870. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays buyers and purchasing agents the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $124,090. After taxes and local prices, Dayton, OH offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many buyers and purchasing agents are there in the U.S.?

About 491,430 people work as buyers and purchasing agents nationwide.

All 41 cities