Overview
Not yet collectedSources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Requirements
Sourced- Education needed to enter
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to get hired
SourcedPurchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents typically need a bachelor's degree, although some employers hire candidates who have a high school diploma. Purchasing managers also need several years of related work experience.
From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 13-1020
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Promotion ladder
EditorialFederal grade and step: federal grade × step (GS/FWS/agency bands: FAA ATC, TSA SV, VA nurse, LEO special rates). Typical structure for a federal general schedule; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.
- GS-5/7 entry (Pathways / recent grad)
- Career-ladder promotions to full-performance level (GS-9/11/12/13)
- GS-14/15 (competitive)
- Senior Executive Service
- within-grade steps 1–10 (steps 2–4 yearly, 5–7 every 2 yrs, 8–10 every 3 yrs)
- special rates: LEO (LEAP 25%), FAA ATC AT-bands, TSA SV bands, VA Nurse I–V
Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).
Pay
SourcedMedian annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 39,470 | $63,440 | $86,200 | $108,160 | $128,420 | $148,700 |
| State | 13,320 | $49,610 | $59,590 | $70,350 | $83,760 | $101,770 |
| Local | 22,010 | $49,630 | $61,920 | $77,950 | $96,860 | $108,430 |
| All government | 74,800 | $54,890 | $67,010 | $89,920 | $115,150 | $136,450 |
| Private sector | 416,630 | $47,590 | $59,930 | $76,440 | $98,690 | $126,980 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
State government pay plans
Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Contract / Procurement Specialist in 37 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.
| State | Job classes in the state plan | Annual range |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Buyer, Buyer, Senior 2 classes · effective September 1, 2026 · Alabama State Personnel Department | $42,094 – $90,295 |
| Arizona | Buyer 2–4, Procurement Specialist, Procurement Specialist Senior, Procurement Officer, Chief 7 classes · effective July 9, 2022 · Arizona Department of Administration, Human Resources Division | $31,909 – $110,235 |
| Arkansas | Procurement Specialist 1 class · effective July 1, 2025 · Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services, Office of Personnel Management | $47,397 – $70,148 |
| Colorado | Purchasing Agent I–VII, Contract Administrator I–VI 13 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration, Division of Human Resources (DHR) | $46,584 – $170,856 |
| Connecticut | Contract Specialist 1 class · effective June 26, 2026 · Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Statewide Human Resources | $99,580 – $127,777 |
| Florida | Purchasing Agent I–III, Purchasing Agent III - Ses, Purchasing Specialist, Purchasing Specialist - Ses 8 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Florida Department of Management Services (DMS), State Human Resource Management | $34,760 – $111,189 |
| Hawaii | Purchasing SPCLT I–VI, Contracts SPCLT, Contracts SPCLT (Med-Quest) 8 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) | $52,416 – $114,912 |
| Idaho | Buyer, Buyer Senior, Purchasing Agent 3 classes · effective June 8, 2025 · Idaho Division of Human Resources | $44,200 – $112,840 |
| Illinois | Contract Specialist I–III, Buyer 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Illinois Department of Central Management Services | $54,816 – $111,684 |
| Indiana | Procurement Specialist 1 class · Indiana State Personnel Department | $59,800 – $92,690 |
| Iowa | Procurement Specialist 1–5 5 classes · effective June 19, 2026 · Iowa Department of Administrative Services | $45,718 – $124,883 |
| Kentucky | Purchasing Agent I–II 2 classes · effective September 16, 2026 · Kentucky Personnel Cabinet | $44,074 – $51,715 |
| Louisiana | Procurement Specialist 1 class · effective March 3, 2025 · Louisiana Department of State Civil Service | $45,968 – $90,210 |
| Maine | Buyer II 1 class · effective August 30, 2026 · Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Human Resources | $43,118 – $59,758 |
| Maryland | Procurement Officer Trainee, Procurement Officer I–IV 5 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM) | $59,305 – $156,822 |
| Massachusetts | Contract Specialist I–III, Buyer I–IV 10 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Human Resources Division (HRD) | $55,557 – $117,590 |
| Michigan | Buyer-E, Buyer Trainee-E, Buyer-A 3 classes · effective October 1, 2025 · Michigan Civil Service Commission | $51,834 – $90,958 |
| Minnesota | Buyer 1–3, Contract Specialist - Const 4 classes · effective July 2, 2026 · Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) | $50,752 – $90,875 |
| Mississippi | Procurement Officer I–II 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Mississippi State Personnel Board | $36,624 – $76,465 |
| Missouri | Procurement Specialist 1 class · effective July 1, 2025 · Missouri Office of Administration, Division of Personnel | $41,208 – $86,712 |
| Nebraska | Procurement Specialist, Procurement Officer 4 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, State Personnel Division | $49,993 – $85,164 |
| Nevada | Buyer, Senior Buyer 2 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Nevada Department of Administration, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) | $56,689 – $91,496 |
| New Jersey | Assistant Buyer, Buyer, Contract Administrator 1–3, Senior Buyer 9 classes · effective July 11, 2026 · New Jersey Civil Service Commission | $58,222 – $141,386 |
| New Mexico | Procurement Specialist 1 class · effective July 4, 2026 · New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO), Compensation and Classification | $75,775 – $113,663 |
| New York | Purchasing Agent 1 class · effective April 1, 2026 · New York State Department of Civil Service | $69,964 – $88,970 |
| North Carolina | Procurement Specialist I–III, Contract Specialist I–II 5 classes · effective February 1, 2026 · North Carolina Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) | $41,206 – $106,544 |
| Pennsylvania | Purchasing Agent, Procurement Specialist 1–5, Procurement Specialist, PHIEA 7 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Administration | $46,827 – $145,965 |
| South Carolina | Procurement Specialist I–II | $40,086 – $78,540 |
| South Dakota | Purchasing Specialist 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes | $49,005 – $73,486 |
| Tennessee | Procurement Officer 1–3 3 classes · effective September 1, 2026 · Tennessee Department of Human Resources | $43,572 – $91,752 |
| Texas | Purchaser I–VII, Contract Specialist I–V 12 classes · effective September 1, 2025 · Texas State Auditor's Office (SAO), State Classification Team | $35,439 – $114,099 |
| Utah | Purchasing Agent I–III 4 classes · effective June 21, 2025 · Utah Department of Government Operations, Division of Human Resource Management (DHRM) | $42,349 – $87,984 |
| Virginia | Procurement Officer I–III 3 classes · effective July 25, 2026 · Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) | $45,739 – $251,443 |
| Washington | Contracts Specialist 1–3 3 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Washington Office of Financial Management (OFM), State Human Resources | $51,600 – $93,288 |
| West Virginia | Procurement Specialist, Buyer, Procurement Specialist, Senior, Buyer, Senior 4 classes · effective August 24, 2024 · West Virginia Department of Administration, Division of Personnel | $37,536 – $75,789 |
| Wisconsin | Contracts Specialist, Contracts Specialist-Senior, Procurement Specialist, +5 more 8 classes · effective June 28, 2026 · Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Personnel Management | $36,234 – $157,893 |
| Wyoming | Associate Buyer, Buyer, Purchasing Agent 3 classes · effective July 1, 2026 · Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Human Resources Division | $55,016 – $105,810 |
Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Sources: 37 official state pay plans, linked in each row.
Related jobs
DerivedBy state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Buyers and Purchasing Agents (SOC 13-1020) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1,880 | $69,910 | $124,090 | $182,310 |
| New Jersey | 12,180 | $62,400 | $93,250 | $140,730 |
| Maryland | 8,900 | $56,310 | $90,900 | $148,700 |
| Virginia | 22,120 | $51,350 | $89,210 | $149,150 |
| Rhode Island | Not published | $52,000 | $86,240 | $121,760 |
| Massachusetts | 12,820 | $49,500 | $85,970 | $145,890 |
| Washington | 15,400 | $58,260 | $85,130 | $137,980 |
| Colorado | 10,080 | $54,990 | $83,590 | $135,470 |
| Alaska | 890 | $60,860 | $83,460 | $132,730 |
| Connecticut | 5,530 | $51,790 | $83,030 | $132,410 |
| Delaware | 1,400 | $57,530 | $82,920 | $128,040 |
| California | 48,010 | $52,690 | $82,720 | $134,310 |
| Minnesota | 10,960 | $52,680 | $80,370 | $125,590 |
| New York | 31,240 | $51,820 | $79,460 | $132,080 |
| Illinois | 19,660 | $50,710 | $78,470 | $126,640 |
| Maine | 1,180 | $49,620 | $77,630 | $126,250 |
| New Hampshire | 2,580 | $52,840 | $77,270 | $125,500 |
| New Mexico | 2,250 | $47,670 | $76,740 | $127,820 |
| Ohio | 21,640 | $47,560 | $76,410 | $120,950 |
| North Dakota | 880 | $52,630 | $76,400 | $106,070 |
| Texas | 44,030 | $47,760 | $76,050 | $124,140 |
| Michigan | 16,680 | $47,260 | $75,900 | $126,330 |
| North Carolina | 14,290 | $48,440 | $75,880 | $127,860 |
| Arkansas | 4,510 | $42,710 | $75,870 | $135,830 |
| West Virginia | 1,130 | $46,000 | $75,670 | $112,400 |
| South Carolina | 6,150 | $45,700 | $75,550 | $123,340 |
| Arizona | 10,870 | $49,790 | $75,340 | $117,900 |
| Oregon | 7,090 | $44,440 | $75,050 | $124,900 |
| Nebraska | 2,850 | $47,840 | $74,950 | $124,180 |
| Utah | 4,090 | $46,850 | $74,540 | $121,120 |
| Georgia | 15,710 | $48,070 | $74,530 | $129,000 |
| Hawaii | 1,720 | $47,920 | $74,240 | $120,270 |
| Alabama | 8,960 | $45,190 | $74,030 | $127,620 |
| South Dakota | 1,180 | $56,330 | $73,990 | $105,110 |
| Pennsylvania | 17,430 | $44,470 | $73,550 | $121,520 |
| Nevada | 2,310 | $50,120 | $72,990 | $104,730 |
| Florida | 30,270 | $45,970 | $72,850 | $122,930 |
| Wyoming | 570 | $46,340 | $72,200 | $109,650 |
| Mississippi | 2,240 | $43,370 | $71,850 | $117,960 |
| Oklahoma | 4,750 | $45,510 | $71,850 | $118,140 |
| Wisconsin | 9,240 | $47,530 | $70,880 | $102,720 |
| Iowa | 4,570 | $46,850 | $70,360 | $106,910 |
| Kansas | 6,470 | $46,150 | $69,500 | $117,810 |
| Indiana | 10,720 | $45,810 | $69,350 | $108,740 |
| Idaho | 1,610 | $47,830 | $69,240 | $108,890 |
| Louisiana | 3,440 | $45,080 | $66,340 | $112,380 |
| Missouri | 8,070 | $45,280 | $65,650 | $111,070 |
| Tennessee | 11,420 | $40,360 | $65,430 | $106,190 |
| Vermont | 1,010 | $45,230 | $65,330 | $166,520 |
| Kentucky | 5,440 | $42,600 | $65,240 | $105,370 |
| Montana | 1,230 | $41,690 | $62,850 | $100,420 |
51 states with published estimates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Not yet collected
These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.
- 01 OverviewNot yet collectedWhat the job is; who hires (F/S/L employer types and counts); headcount (OEWS)
- 05 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 08 ScheduleNot yet collectedShift patterns (24/48, 4/10, 5/8, split), seniority bidding, holidays, mandatory OT
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
- 12 Day-to-day workNot yet collectedSourced description; later: insider contributions (the wiki layer)
- 14 Exam practiceNot yet collectedNamed exams → OpenExamPrep practice
- 15 Employer directoryNot yet collectedL4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values