Buyers and Purchasing Agents vs Sales Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals earn $75,650 more per year than Sales Managers professionals.
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Buyers and Purchasing Agents
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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 Sales Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $175,360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $174,610 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA | $156,950 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $144,910 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $131,410 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Buyers and Purchasing Agents or Sales Managers?
Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $75,650 (null% 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 Sales Managers?
Salary data for Sales Managers is not currently available.
How many Buyers and Purchasing Agents and Sales Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 486,900 Buyers and Purchasing Agents positions and N/A Sales Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Sales Managers 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 Sales Managers earns $0. 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