Hiring Purchasing Managers

What do purchasing managers do?

• Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
• Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
• Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
• Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
• Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 11-3061.00.

What does it take to become one?

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

O*NET Job Zone 4, SVP (7.0 to < 8.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Purchasing software, SAP software for this role.

What do purchasing managers get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for purchasing managers in 89 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $93,910 to $198,980 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $137,820. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 11-3061.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for purchasing managers in this build is $198,980. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $39,796 to $59,694 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a purchasing managers search fill?

23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.