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Purchasing Managers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $148,080 Median per year · $71.19/hr Most earn $92,490–$223,280

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
  • Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
  • Administer online purchasing systems.
  • Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
  • Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
  • Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 6,400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Management of companies and enterprises17.6%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service7.6%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods4.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)3.5%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals3.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Purchasing Manager is not an entry-level job. People usually earn a bachelor's degree and then work 2 to 4 years in a purchasing role before moving into management, so the full path often takes about 6 to 8 years.

  1. Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, or a related field

    4 years

    You learn how businesses buy goods and services, manage contracts, and track costs, which gives you the base knowledge employers look for.

  2. Purchasing Agent

    2-4 years

    You handle day-to-day buying, compare suppliers, negotiate prices and terms, and build the experience needed to oversee others.

  3. Purchasing Manager

    Ongoing

    You plan and lead the purchasing team, set buying strategy, manage supplier relationships, and make decisions about large spending.

Where it can lead

  1. Supply Chain Manager

    Often 6-8 years of total experience in the field of experience first

    You oversee the whole flow of materials from suppliers through production and delivery, not just buying, so you need a wider view of operations and logistics.

  2. Director of Procurement

    Usually several years as a purchasing manager of experience first

    You set purchasing strategy for an entire company or division and lead several managers, which takes strong leadership and budget skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math, especially statistics or business math if offeredStrong math helps you compare prices, costs, and contract terms, which is a daily part of purchasing work.
  • Join a business club like DECA or FBLA if your school has oneThese clubs teach negotiation, presenting, and basic business skills that employers value in purchasing.
  • Get a part-time job in retail, a grocery store, or a restaurantWorking with inventory, stock orders, and vendors shows you how products move from suppliers to customers.
  • Practice spreadsheetsLearning to organize data and build simple formulas prepares you for cost tracking and supplier comparisons.
  • Volunteer to help manage money for a club or teamKeeping a budget and buying supplies for a group gives you hands-on experience with spending decisions.

In college

  • Major in supply chain management, business, or operationsThese majors cover purchasing, contracts, logistics, and cost analysis, which are the core skills for this career.
  • Apply for an internship in purchasing, procurement, or supply chainInternships let you see how real companies buy goods and services and build experience that employers ask for.
  • Take a course in negotiation or contract lawNegotiating prices and reading contract terms are central to purchasing, so these classes give you a practical edge.
  • Work a campus job that involves ordering or budgetingJobs at a campus bookstore, dining service, or student organization treasurer role build experience with vendors and budgets.
  • Consider a professional certification once you have some work experienceCertifications in purchasing or supply management, which many schools and training groups offer, can strengthen your résumé as you move up.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for a part-time, summer, or entry-level job in a store, warehouse, or office that buys supplies. Seeing how orders, vendors, and budgets work gives you real experience early.
  • Build strong Excel and math skills and practice writing clear emails and reports. Purchasing work depends on comparing numbers and explaining decisions to others.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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