Buyers and Purchasing Agent Salary in Sector of Wholesale Trade

The salary statistics of buyers and purchasing agents in the industry sector of wholesale trade are shown in Table 1. In Table 2 we compare buyers and purchasing agent salaries in different industries within the wholesale trade sector.

Average Annual Salary of Buyers and Purchasing Agents

Percentile BracketAverage Annual Salary
10th Percentile Wage
$33,540
25th Percentile Wage
$43,640
50th Percentile Wage
$57,340
75th Percentile Wage
$74,600
90th Percentile Wage
$96,950

Table 1 shows the average annual salary for buyers and purchasing agents in the industry sector of wholesale trade. The salaries are shown in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) buyers and purchasing agents is $96,950. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $57,340. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent paid buyers and purchasing agents is $33,540.

Median salary trend (2012 to 2018)

The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of buyers and purchasing agents in the industry sector of wholesale trade from 2012 to 2018.

YearMedian SalaryYearly Growth6-Year Growth
2018
$57,340
1.22% 8.51%
2017
$56,640
2.77% -
2016
$55,070
2.36% -
2015
$53,770
1.12% -
2014
$53,170
1.17% -
2013
$52,550
0.17% -
2012
$52,460
- -

Compare Buyers and Purchasing Agent Salary in Different Industries within the Wholesale Trade Sector

The average salaries of buyers and purchasing agents in 13 industries in the wholesale trade sector are shown below. We note that within this industry sector, the salaries vary among different industries. The highest paying industry for buyers and purchasing agent occupations is the metal and mineral (except petroleum) merchant wholesalers industry with an annual salary $60,820. The lowest paying industry is the beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverage merchant wholesalers industry (annual salary $50,790). For detailed buyers and purchasing agent salary information in a particular industry, use the links provided below.

Industry Name Median Annual Salary
Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers
$60,820
Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers
$59,130
Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers
$57,410
Furniture and Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
$57,310
Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers
$57,260
Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers
$56,360
Paper and Paper Product Merchant Wholesalers
$56,350
Grocery and Related Product Merchant Wholesalers
$55,160
Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
$55,060
Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
$54,510
Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
$53,710
Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers
$51,650
Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers
$50,790

Data source: The national compensation survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2018 and published in April 2019 [1].