Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products: Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semi-finished materials for manufacturing. Include contract specialists, field contractors, purchasers, price analysts, tooling coordinators, and media buyers.
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents held about 520,000 jobs in 2004. Forty-three percent worked in the wholesale trade and manufacturing industries, and another twelve percent worked in retail trade. The remainder worked mostly in service establishments, such as hospitals, or different levels of government. A small number were self-employed.
The following tabulation shows the distribution of employment by occupational specialty:
| Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products | 273,000 |
| Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products | 156,000 |
| Purchasing managers | 75,000 |
| Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products | 16,000 |
Median annual earnings of purchasing managers were $72,450 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $54,150 and $94,970 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $121,600 a year.
Median annual earnings for purchasing agents and buyers, farm products were $43,720 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,100 and $59,420 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $82,330 a year.
Median annual earnings for wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products, were $42,230 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,550 and $57,010 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,380, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,340 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products, in May 2004 were:
| Management of companies and enterprises | $49,770 |
| Grocery and related product wholesalers | 43,910 |
| Wholesale electronic markets and agents and brokers | 43,860 |
| Building material and supplies dealers | 35,850 |
| Grocery stores | 32,790 |
Median annual earnings for purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products, were $47,680 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,760 and $62,600 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,640, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,710 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of purchasing agents, except of wholesale, retail, and farm products, in May 2004 were:
| Federal executive branch and United States Postal Service | $63,940 |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 55,820 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 53,750 |
| Local government | 44,730 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 37,090 |
Purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents receive the same benefits package as other workers, including vacations, sick leave, life and health insurance, and pension plans. In addition to receiving standard benefits, retail buyers often earn cash bonuses based on their performance and may receive discounts on merchandise bought from their employer.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 250 mean earnings: $35,860 (def) (IG) | $22,410 | $24,780 | $30,640 | $43,810 | $58,250 |
| Forestry and Logging employment: 220 mean earnings: $34,250 | $18,920 | $24,380 | $27,890 | $41,840 | $55,640 |
| Mining employment: 1,840 mean earnings: $54,560 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,820 | $38,740 | $49,960 | $66,120 | $86,300 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 750 mean earnings: $60,650 | $33,220 | $41,930 | $55,800 | $76,350 | $96,930 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 720 mean earnings: $52,080 | $30,030 | $38,720 | $48,750 | $60,120 | $75,360 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 370 mean earnings: $47,030 | $29,730 | $34,240 | $43,050 | $56,700 | $70,620 |
| Utilities employment: 2,790 mean earnings: $56,980 (EC) (def) (IG) | $34,000 | $43,280 | $54,910 | $69,600 | $85,350 |
| Utilities employment: 2,790 mean earnings: $56,980 | $34,000 | $43,280 | $54,910 | $69,600 | $85,350 |
| Construction employment: 11,480 mean earnings: $49,940 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,370 | $36,280 | $46,170 | $60,520 | $76,780 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 5,730 mean earnings: $51,730 | $30,200 | $37,340 | $48,660 | $63,010 | $79,650 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 2,030 mean earnings: $50,140 | $29,150 | $36,690 | $46,340 | $59,550 | $78,270 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 3,720 mean earnings: $47,060 | $28,260 | $34,530 | $43,290 | $57,180 | $71,810 |
| Manufacturing employment: 104,450 mean earnings: $50,510 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,200 | $37,390 | $47,720 | $60,940 | $75,640 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 3,910 mean earnings: $50,160 | $29,890 | $36,820 | $46,800 | $59,840 | $75,750 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 510 mean earnings: $43,010 | $22,620 | $27,720 | $40,570 | $54,220 | $70,620 |
| Textile Mills employment: 610 mean earnings: $47,480 | $27,440 | $33,680 | $43,200 | $57,450 | $74,940 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 540 mean earnings: $42,530 | $25,680 | $31,690 | $39,670 | $51,200 | $65,310 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 960 mean earnings: $46,870 | $29,110 | $33,270 | $43,470 | $55,020 | $72,220 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employment: 150 mean earnings: $45,220 | $26,450 | $32,210 | $41,230 | $53,440 | $69,320 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 2,750 mean earnings: $46,360 | $27,220 | $33,750 | $43,220 | $55,860 | $69,610 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 2,400 mean earnings: $50,000 | $30,490 | $37,860 | $47,290 | $59,590 | $72,930 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 2,830 mean earnings: $45,120 | $28,740 | $34,900 | $42,660 | $53,370 | $66,330 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 780 mean earnings: $55,050 | $31,210 | $39,310 | $51,710 | $67,390 | $87,020 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 6,460 mean earnings: $53,230 | $32,300 | $39,950 | $50,630 | $64,450 | $80,600 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 3,860 mean earnings: $46,570 | $28,970 | $34,880 | $43,810 | $55,040 | $69,220 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 1,860 mean earnings: $47,950 | $29,590 | $36,030 | $44,660 | $56,740 | $72,320 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 2,010 mean earnings: $49,050 | $30,280 | $36,820 | $46,070 | $57,700 | $72,300 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 11,570 mean earnings: $46,070 | $28,740 | $35,020 | $43,670 | $54,740 | $68,000 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 14,100 mean earnings: $48,640 | $30,200 | $37,240 | $46,170 | $57,610 | $71,320 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 19,890 mean earnings: $55,380 | $32,620 | $41,020 | $52,750 | $67,490 | $84,640 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 4,340 mean earnings: $49,250 | $30,320 | $37,350 | $46,530 | $58,180 | $72,340 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 17,280 mean earnings: $54,460 | $31,910 | $39,860 | $52,410 | $67,340 | $82,480 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 2,850 mean earnings: $43,730 | $27,120 | $32,960 | $41,480 | $52,460 | $64,810 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 4,780 mean earnings: $46,830 | $28,160 | $34,820 | $45,220 | $56,390 | $69,410 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 17,860 mean earnings: $49,850 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,370 | $34,540 | $43,880 | $58,310 | $80,910 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 13,370 mean earnings: $48,550 | $28,190 | $34,540 | $43,540 | $57,360 | $76,640 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 2,060 mean earnings: $51,740 | $30,120 | $37,770 | $47,900 | $62,440 | $81,990 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 2,440 mean earnings: $55,450 | $28,010 | $32,790 | $42,720 | $63,670 | $105,300 |
| Retail Trade employment: 4,680 mean earnings: $46,770 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,360 | $33,120 | $44,140 | $55,580 | $71,190 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 460 mean earnings: $54,830 | $30,250 | $38,230 | $49,360 | $66,080 | $92,550 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 140 mean earnings: $49,460 | $27,960 | $35,990 | $45,670 | $60,660 | $75,240 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 360 mean earnings: $51,440 | $31,160 | $37,480 | $45,080 | $57,590 | $80,020 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: n.a. mean earnings: $42,330 | $26,680 | $31,270 | $39,970 | $51,690 | $62,110 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 620 mean earnings: $44,530 | $24,460 | $27,850 | $39,120 | $56,280 | $75,020 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 310 mean earnings: $44,370 | $23,530 | $31,920 | $42,780 | $52,990 | $69,630 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 40 mean earnings: $41,800 | $25,630 | $28,800 | $40,660 | $47,240 | $61,670 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 240 mean earnings: $46,770 | $27,670 | $34,940 | $46,750 | $56,190 | $66,680 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 250 mean earnings: $40,590 | $23,570 | $26,660 | $37,500 | $49,580 | $67,360 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 120 mean earnings: $39,990 | $23,460 | $31,290 | $37,640 | $45,110 | $64,310 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 500 mean earnings: $45,230 | $24,400 | $35,390 | $46,770 | $53,750 | $63,400 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 600 mean earnings: $53,880 | $33,720 | $40,500 | $51,020 | $64,280 | $80,390 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 5,450 mean earnings: $51,230 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,080 | $37,120 | $48,800 | $62,310 | $78,410 |
| Air Transportation employment: 1,080 mean earnings: $48,850 | $29,970 | $36,620 | $47,460 | $58,760 | $71,500 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 120 mean earnings: $59,390 | $37,230 | $46,930 | $57,140 | $71,450 | $87,510 |
| Water Transportation employment: 440 mean earnings: $45,150 | $28,450 | $32,240 | $41,420 | $55,770 | $70,450 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 460 mean earnings: $46,420 | $26,220 | $33,430 | $42,790 | $55,920 | $71,970 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 130 mean earnings: $47,870 | $29,080 | $36,460 | $44,780 | $58,980 | $71,340 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 240 mean earnings: $57,200 | $33,220 | $42,980 | $53,280 | $68,050 | $89,230 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 1,300 mean earnings: $46,690 | $28,770 | $33,930 | $42,910 | $54,950 | $70,150 |
| Postal Service employment: 890 mean earnings: $64,320 | $47,180 | $51,340 | $60,380 | $77,180 | $88,350 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 180 mean earnings: $55,890 | $33,060 | $41,320 | $53,840 | $67,850 | $81,210 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 620 mean earnings: $49,570 | $29,470 | $35,210 | $46,860 | $60,910 | $75,520 |
| Information employment: 7,460 mean earnings: $61,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,190 | $45,260 | $57,990 | $75,590 | $92,100 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 1,260 mean earnings: $63,530 | $37,000 | $45,550 | $58,730 | $78,820 | $99,030 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 200 mean earnings: $58,340 | $31,970 | $40,910 | $58,260 | $73,640 | $87,940 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 90 mean earnings: $59,390 | $37,520 | $44,510 | $55,600 | $68,500 | $88,460 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 120 mean earnings: $47,220 | $32,890 | $38,120 | $44,490 | $53,890 | $68,760 |
| Telecommunications employment: 4,510 mean earnings: $62,400 | $37,150 | $47,130 | $59,550 | $77,000 | $92,670 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 1,260 mean earnings: $57,000 | $34,150 | $41,330 | $54,060 | $70,650 | $87,130 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 5,160 mean earnings: $53,680 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,200 | $40,290 | $51,600 | $65,410 | $79,240 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 50 mean earnings: $59,270 | $39,230 | $44,700 | $57,350 | $69,860 | $88,010 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 1,700 mean earnings: $52,620 | $29,830 | $37,680 | $49,900 | $65,460 | $81,460 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 460 mean earnings: $59,860 | $36,550 | $45,480 | $57,500 | $72,890 | $89,800 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 2,920 mean earnings: $52,970 | $33,440 | $40,900 | $51,380 | $63,910 | $75,190 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 30 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 1,820 mean earnings: $49,630 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,400 | $35,140 | $44,770 | $58,590 | $76,740 |
| Real Estate employment: 480 mean earnings: $49,800 | $31,340 | $37,270 | $44,650 | $61,530 | $76,570 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 1,240 mean earnings: $49,340 | $28,550 | $34,080 | $44,710 | $57,320 | $75,620 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 100 mean earnings: $52,320 | $30,880 | $38,200 | $46,330 | $63,860 | $85,500 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 20,440 mean earnings: $58,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,820 | $41,260 | $55,090 | $72,320 | $90,960 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 20,440 mean earnings: $58,500 | $32,820 | $41,260 | $55,090 | $72,320 | $90,960 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 15,170 mean earnings: $56,560 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,310 | $40,510 | $53,110 | $70,150 | $88,140 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 15,170 mean earnings: $56,560 | $32,310 | $40,510 | $53,110 | $70,150 | $88,140 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 4,910 mean earnings: $51,100 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,250 | $37,250 | $47,840 | $62,680 | $79,790 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 4,640 mean earnings: $50,370 | $29,020 | $36,900 | $47,330 | $61,580 | $77,550 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 270 mean earnings: $63,610 | $37,000 | $44,320 | $59,520 | $83,860 | $102,270 |
| Educational Services employment: 5,840 mean earnings: $47,110 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,950 | $36,090 | $44,390 | $55,920 | $69,730 |
| Educational Services employment: 5,840 mean earnings: $47,110 | $29,950 | $36,090 | $44,390 | $55,920 | $69,730 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 10,100 mean earnings: $42,870 (EC) (def) (IG) | $26,280 | $31,980 | $40,040 | $51,140 | $65,150 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 1,130 mean earnings: $44,860 | $28,770 | $33,570 | $41,700 | $53,550 | $68,030 |
| Hospitals employment: 8,120 mean earnings: $42,610 | $26,220 | $31,850 | $39,820 | $50,710 | $64,540 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 400 mean earnings: $41,080 | $24,290 | $29,220 | $37,970 | $47,900 | $61,560 |
| Social Assistance employment: 450 mean earnings: $44,060 | $25,930 | $32,620 | $41,570 | $54,770 | $67,470 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 630 mean earnings: $42,110 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,750 | $30,540 | $38,970 | $51,710 | $66,710 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 110 mean earnings: $46,360 | $29,560 | $34,490 | $43,380 | $55,820 | $71,080 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 160 mean earnings: $39,130 | $23,690 | $28,960 | $35,870 | $46,890 | $63,010 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 360 mean earnings: $42,140 | $23,210 | $30,280 | $39,020 | $51,730 | $66,740 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 3,130 mean earnings: $40,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,550 | $28,980 | $37,350 | $48,710 | $62,860 |
| Accommodation employment: 1,790 mean earnings: $39,830 | $23,150 | $28,740 | $36,410 | $47,480 | $63,090 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 1,340 mean earnings: $40,890 | $21,350 | $29,500 | $38,750 | $50,130 | $62,580 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 3,400 mean earnings: $44,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,060 | $31,720 | $40,210 | $53,200 | $70,630 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 2,670 mean earnings: $42,760 | $24,400 | $31,070 | $39,100 | $49,840 | $67,780 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 200 mean earnings: $47,570 | $26,090 | $34,410 | $43,230 | $62,100 | $71,270 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 530 mean earnings: $51,530 | $29,350 | $35,180 | $45,850 | $64,120 | $86,310 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 40,570 mean earnings: $59,380 (def) (IG) | $34,370 | $42,730 | $57,140 | $74,500 | $88,920 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 40,570 mean earnings: $59,380 | $34,370 | $42,730 | $57,140 | $74,500 | $88,920 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.