SalaryByCity

Buyers and Purchasing Agents vs First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

$75,650

Median annual salary

486,900 employed nationally

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

$47,320

Median annual salary

1,113,160 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals earn $28,330 more per year than First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers professionals — that's 59.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Buyers and Purchasing Agents earns $127,520 compared to $76,560 for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers.

Salary Range Comparison

Buyers and Purchasing Agents$46,460 – $127,520
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$31,120 – $76,560
$31,120$127,520

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBuyers and Purchasing AgentsFirst-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersDifference
10th Percentile$46,460$31,120+$15,340
25th Percentile$58,670$37,580+$21,090
Median (50th)$75,650$47,320+$28,330
75th Percentile$99,190$60,510+$38,680
90th Percentile$127,520$76,560+$50,960
Mean (Average)$81,720$52,350+$29,370

Employment Numbers

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

486,900

employed nationwide

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

1,113,160

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Buyers and Purchasing Agents

CityMedian
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$103,560
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$102,140
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$93,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$85,980
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$84,680

Best Cities for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

CityMedian
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$60,320
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$60,260
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$58,320
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$57,440
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$57,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Buyers and Purchasing Agents or First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers?
Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $28,330 (59.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Buyers and Purchasing Agents?
Buyers and Purchasing Agents salaries range from $46,460 (10th percentile) to $127,520 (90th percentile), with a median of $75,650.
What is the salary range for First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers?
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers salaries range from $31,120 (10th percentile) to $76,560 (90th percentile), with a median of $47,320.
How many Buyers and Purchasing Agents and First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers jobs are there?
There are approximately 486,900 Buyers and Purchasing Agents positions and 1,113,160 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers to Buyers and Purchasing Agents?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Buyers and Purchasing Agents has a median salary of $75,650 while First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers earns $47,320. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS