Management
Purchasing Managers
Also called: Category Purchasing Manager, Commodity Manager, Materials Director, Materials Manager
US median pay
$148,080
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
6,400
88,300 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Administer online purchasing systems.
- Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
- Interview and hire staff, and oversee staff training.
- Develop cost reduction strategies and savings plans.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Management of Personnel Resources4.0/5
- Time Management3.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Negotiation3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Persuasion3.6/5
- Systems Analysis3.5/5
Knowledge
- Administration and Management4.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.0/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Law and Government3.8/5
- Economics and Accounting3.7/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree53%
- Post-secondary certificate16%
- Master's degree11%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.