Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products
November 2004 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 527,000 jobs in 2002. Forty-two percent worked in the wholesale trade and manufacturing industries, and another 15 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 | 245,000 |
| Wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products | 155,000 |
| Purchasing managers | 108,000 |
| Purchasing agents and buyers, farm products | 19,000 |
Median annual earnings of purchasing managers were $59,890 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $43,670 and $81,950 a year. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $32,330, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $108,140 a year.
Median annual earnings for purchasing agents and buyers, farm products were $40,900 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,390 and $55,440 a year. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $23,850, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $76,740 a year.
Median annual earnings for wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products, were $40,780 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $30,040 and $55,670 a year. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $23,270, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $76,070 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of wholesale and retail buyers, except farm products, in 2002 were as follows:
| Management of companies and enterprises | $49,150 |
| Grocery and related product wholesalers | 42,850 |
| Machinery, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers | 37,920 |
| Building material and supplies dealers | 35,910 |
Median annual earnings for purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products, were $45,090 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $34,820 and $58,780 a year. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $27,950, and the highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $73,990 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of purchasing agents, except of wholesale, retail, and farm products, in 2002 were as follows:
| Federal Government | $58,410 |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 52,900 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 50,790 |
| Local government | 42,450 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 34,420 |
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.
November 2004 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: 170 mean earnings: $37,350 (def) (IG) | $16,320 | $18,300 | $38,620 | $48,960 | $62,680 |
| Forestry and Logging employment: 150 mean earnings: $36,070 | $16,140 | $17,860 | $37,510 | $48,040 | $61,760 |
| Mining employment: 1,730 mean earnings: $56,570 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,730 | $39,560 | $52,200 | $69,290 | $90,270 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction employment: 730 mean earnings: $66,600 | $36,240 | $47,460 | $62,820 | $83,620 | $106,060 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 710 mean earnings: $50,530 | $29,360 | $38,120 | $47,980 | $59,420 | $73,800 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 290 mean earnings: $46,050 | $28,440 | $33,010 | $42,100 | $56,620 | $72,020 |
| Utilities employment: 2,890 mean earnings: $58,170 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,480 | $44,620 | $55,580 | $70,430 | $85,780 |
| Utilities employment: 2,890 mean earnings: $58,170 | $35,480 | $44,620 | $55,580 | $70,430 | $85,780 |
| Construction employment: 10,520 mean earnings: $49,900 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,060 | $36,370 | $46,240 | $59,300 | $77,590 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 4,940 mean earnings: $51,400 | $30,230 | $37,400 | $48,170 | $61,290 | $81,050 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 1,910 mean earnings: $50,530 | $28,080 | $35,270 | $46,140 | $60,550 | $79,660 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 3,670 mean earnings: $47,560 | $27,830 | $35,540 | $44,190 | $56,680 | $72,630 |
| Manufacturing employment: 102,660 mean earnings: $50,190 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,000 | $37,070 | $47,360 | $60,490 | $75,550 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 3,770 mean earnings: $49,810 | $29,170 | $36,180 | $46,400 | $59,120 | $76,810 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 580 mean earnings: $42,400 | $22,990 | $28,590 | $40,650 | $52,420 | $67,810 |
| Textile Mills employment: 670 mean earnings: $46,610 | $27,150 | $33,330 | $43,530 | $55,940 | $71,640 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 500 mean earnings: $42,440 | $25,150 | $31,460 | $40,100 | $51,240 | $65,330 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 970 mean earnings: $44,840 | $28,350 | $32,290 | $41,290 | $53,210 | $66,720 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employment: 170 mean earnings: $44,680 | $25,900 | $32,330 | $40,350 | $52,080 | $67,950 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 2,530 mean earnings: $46,760 | $26,850 | $33,000 | $42,800 | $55,220 | $69,970 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 2,370 mean earnings: $48,910 | $29,730 | $36,680 | $45,670 | $58,540 | $73,000 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 2,790 mean earnings: $44,400 | $28,200 | $33,590 | $41,970 | $53,140 | $65,590 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 770 mean earnings: $55,640 | $31,740 | $40,030 | $52,460 | $68,110 | $86,810 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 6,470 mean earnings: $52,520 | $32,020 | $39,490 | $49,610 | $63,120 | $79,290 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 3,750 mean earnings: $46,160 | $28,620 | $34,750 | $43,410 | $54,750 | $68,490 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 1,720 mean earnings: $46,600 | $29,320 | $34,990 | $44,160 | $55,010 | $69,210 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 1,970 mean earnings: $48,800 | $29,330 | $36,080 | $46,060 | $58,400 | $72,880 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 11,620 mean earnings: $45,650 | $28,820 | $34,620 | $43,290 | $54,240 | $66,900 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 13,960 mean earnings: $48,260 | $30,190 | $37,250 | $46,020 | $57,220 | $70,480 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 19,090 mean earnings: $55,050 | $32,370 | $40,660 | $52,400 | $67,280 | $83,870 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 4,270 mean earnings: $49,130 | $29,820 | $36,650 | $46,210 | $58,880 | $72,860 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 16,990 mean earnings: $54,850 | $31,850 | $40,090 | $53,010 | $67,850 | $83,030 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 2,880 mean earnings: $43,710 | $27,050 | $32,950 | $41,370 | $52,010 | $64,690 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 4,810 mean earnings: $46,450 | $28,330 | $35,580 | $44,990 | $55,440 | $68,010 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 17,320 mean earnings: $49,170 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,810 | $33,930 | $43,520 | $57,230 | $79,720 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 12,880 mean earnings: $47,490 | $27,560 | $33,820 | $43,030 | $56,040 | $74,690 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 1,990 mean earnings: $49,910 | $28,370 | $36,550 | $46,600 | $59,640 | $76,920 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 2,450 mean earnings: $57,360 | $28,720 | $33,170 | $44,060 | $69,980 | $106,260 |
| Retail Trade employment: 4,140 mean earnings: $46,120 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,990 | $32,510 | $42,400 | $55,910 | $72,040 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 440 mean earnings: $51,510 | $28,820 | $36,060 | $48,150 | $62,820 | $76,280 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 150 mean earnings: $51,810 | $31,150 | $37,220 | $46,840 | $62,070 | $84,210 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 380 mean earnings: $47,220 | $29,560 | $36,110 | $42,440 | $54,980 | $75,010 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 560 mean earnings: $41,700 | $24,120 | $30,010 | $38,760 | $49,280 | $65,390 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 630 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 390 mean earnings: $46,410 | $24,540 | $32,360 | $41,490 | $55,690 | $77,680 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 60 mean earnings: $37,100 | $24,200 | $26,540 | $39,000 | $44,260 | $47,500 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: 240 mean earnings: $46,210 | $28,130 | $33,780 | $42,770 | $55,660 | $73,030 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 150 mean earnings: $39,700 | $23,210 | $28,780 | $37,720 | $49,220 | $60,990 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 140 mean earnings: $39,600 | $24,000 | $31,000 | $36,650 | $44,360 | $64,090 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 340 mean earnings: $41,740 | $24,570 | $30,290 | $40,590 | $49,720 | $63,040 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 660 mean earnings: $52,880 | $33,380 | $39,910 | $50,030 | $63,490 | $76,720 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 5,390 mean earnings: $50,900 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,360 | $37,520 | $48,640 | $61,790 | $76,620 |
| Air Transportation employment: 1,020 mean earnings: $47,860 | $29,670 | $35,950 | $46,520 | $57,730 | $69,750 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 180 mean earnings: $62,140 | $40,510 | $49,230 | $61,480 | $73,720 | $88,440 |
| Water Transportation employment: 400 mean earnings: $47,820 | $28,510 | $36,800 | $45,900 | $57,660 | $70,760 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 430 mean earnings: $45,840 | $29,200 | $34,640 | $42,820 | $54,640 | $67,770 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 150 mean earnings: $48,040 | $29,140 | $37,570 | $44,960 | $59,020 | $71,980 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 240 mean earnings: $56,980 | $32,870 | $41,210 | $52,900 | $69,150 | $88,940 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 1,250 mean earnings: $45,110 | $28,010 | $33,060 | $41,800 | $53,310 | $67,900 |
| Postal Service employment: 890 mean earnings: $61,900 | $46,850 | $50,710 | $57,680 | $72,080 | $85,140 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 190 mean earnings: $55,490 | $33,280 | $40,970 | $53,450 | $67,050 | $81,260 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 640 mean earnings: $51,080 | $30,020 | $36,270 | $46,000 | $64,840 | $80,260 |
| Information employment: 7,290 mean earnings: $60,720 (EC) (def) (IG) | $35,920 | $45,000 | $58,220 | $74,620 | $91,010 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 1,300 mean earnings: $61,560 | $33,970 | $43,540 | $56,930 | $76,760 | $97,840 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 240 mean earnings: $56,290 | $32,570 | $39,830 | $54,350 | $70,070 | $86,620 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 90 mean earnings: $58,210 | $35,840 | $41,190 | $52,440 | $68,500 | $99,410 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 100 mean earnings: $46,680 | $32,940 | $38,210 | $44,100 | $53,310 | $67,210 |
| Telecommunications employment: 4,400 mean earnings: $61,350 | $37,190 | $46,600 | $59,640 | $75,020 | $90,570 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 1,130 mean earnings: $60,220 | $35,400 | $43,780 | $58,120 | $74,380 | $90,340 |
| Other Information Services employment: 30 mean earnings: $45,030 | $32,000 | $34,220 | $37,920 | $54,390 | $71,840 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 5,480 mean earnings: $51,550 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,500 | $39,380 | $49,560 | $62,020 | $75,090 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 50 mean earnings: $52,660 | $35,090 | $39,640 | $49,120 | $63,480 | $74,260 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 1,950 mean earnings: $50,870 | $29,150 | $37,020 | $48,170 | $62,930 | $75,670 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 540 mean earnings: $56,620 | $35,630 | $43,780 | $54,350 | $68,560 | $83,850 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 2,910 mean earnings: $51,030 | $32,640 | $39,950 | $49,510 | $60,050 | $72,900 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 1,680 mean earnings: $48,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,030 | $33,820 | $43,480 | $56,590 | $73,450 |
| Real Estate employment: 440 mean earnings: $47,740 | $30,410 | $35,730 | $43,490 | $58,350 | $73,090 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 1,150 mean earnings: $48,040 | $26,720 | $32,820 | $43,280 | $55,980 | $72,210 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 90 mean earnings: $51,380 | $31,620 | $37,690 | $44,790 | $60,720 | $85,480 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 20,160 mean earnings: $56,970 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,550 | $40,160 | $53,730 | $70,520 | $88,810 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 20,160 mean earnings: $56,970 | $31,550 | $40,160 | $53,730 | $70,520 | $88,810 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 14,190 mean earnings: $58,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $33,360 | $41,710 | $54,830 | $71,790 | $90,010 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 14,190 mean earnings: $58,150 | $33,360 | $41,710 | $54,830 | $71,790 | $90,010 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 4,780 mean earnings: $48,890 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,740 | $35,320 | $45,150 | $60,150 | $77,250 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 4,580 mean earnings: $48,800 | $27,640 | $35,120 | $45,010 | $60,000 | $77,280 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 200 mean earnings: $51,060 | $31,190 | $39,020 | $48,460 | $63,390 | $76,830 |
| Educational Services employment: 6,200 mean earnings: $46,120 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,580 | $35,730 | $43,580 | $54,350 | $68,200 |
| Educational Services employment: 6,200 mean earnings: $46,120 | $29,580 | $35,730 | $43,580 | $54,350 | $68,200 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 10,520 mean earnings: $40,930 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,480 | $30,910 | $38,260 | $48,230 | $60,750 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 1,290 mean earnings: $43,170 | $27,270 | $32,510 | $40,400 | $51,090 | $64,900 |
| Hospitals employment: 8,310 mean earnings: $40,770 | $25,360 | $30,840 | $38,110 | $47,960 | $60,430 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 470 mean earnings: $36,660 | $23,600 | $27,310 | $33,800 | $44,740 | $54,520 |
| Social Assistance employment: 450 mean earnings: $41,940 | $27,570 | $32,380 | $39,160 | $48,590 | $62,610 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 810 mean earnings: $38,090 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,380 | $27,470 | $35,360 | $46,390 | $59,780 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 150 mean earnings: $43,160 | $25,290 | $32,520 | $40,110 | $51,910 | $65,050 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions employment: 170 mean earnings: $38,950 | $23,430 | $27,540 | $34,570 | $47,700 | $63,620 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 490 mean earnings: $36,290 | $18,350 | $25,850 | $34,120 | $44,690 | $56,210 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 2,920 mean earnings: $39,290 (EC) (def) (IG) | $22,360 | $29,280 | $36,760 | $47,490 | $59,170 |
| Accommodation employment: 1,760 mean earnings: $38,840 | $22,880 | $28,670 | $35,840 | $46,380 | $59,070 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 1,170 mean earnings: $39,980 | $21,150 | $30,270 | $38,320 | $49,210 | $59,300 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 3,450 mean earnings: $42,410 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,320 | $30,470 | $38,710 | $49,470 | $67,650 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 2,770 mean earnings: $40,940 | $24,020 | $30,060 | $37,870 | $47,200 | $64,020 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 160 mean earnings: $43,070 | $24,310 | $26,840 | $38,900 | $55,650 | $71,840 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 520 mean earnings: $50,030 | $27,980 | $34,920 | $44,510 | $61,450 | $82,150 |
| Public Administration employment: 40,820 mean earnings: $57,720 (def) (IG) | $33,210 | $41,740 | $55,800 | $72,170 | $86,790 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 40,820 mean earnings: $57,720 | $33,210 | $41,740 | $55,800 | $72,170 | $86,790 |
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.
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates