Buyer and Purchasing Agent Salary in St. Louis, MO
Buyers and Purchasing Agents in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $73,280 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,876 take-home, or $4,823 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median buyer and purchasing agent salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,292
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,543
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,063
- Missouri income tax$2,507
- Take-home pay$57,876
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $733 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $57,143 ($4,762 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. 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 St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,170 | $23.64 | $40,314 | $3,360 |
| 25th percentile | $60,390 | $29.03 | $48,802 | $4,067 |
| Median (50th) | $73,280 | $35.23 | $57,876 | $4,823 |
| 75th percentile | $94,010 | $45.20 | $71,485 | $5,957 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,850 | $57.14 | $87,792 | $7,316 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,280 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median buyer and purchasing agent's $57,876 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,865 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for buyers and purchasing agents, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | St. Louis, MO | $73,280 | $57,876 | $60,865 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $74,740
Frequently asked questions
How much does a buyer and purchasing agent make in St. Louis, MO?
The median buyer and purchasing agent salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $73,280 a year, or about $35.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,390 and $94,010.
What is a buyer and purchasing agent’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $73,280 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $57,876 a year ($4,823 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,507 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a buyer and purchasing agent?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $77,710. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,865 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #25 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a buyer and purchasing agent afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median buyer and purchasing agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
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- Logistician — $88,880
- Accountant and Auditor — $78,880
- Cost Estimator — $78,730
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