SalaryByCity

Buyers and Purchasing Agents vs Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive: 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

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

$46,290

Median annual salary

1,737,820 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals earn $29,360 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 63.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Buyers and Purchasing Agents earns $127,520 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Buyers and Purchasing Agents$46,460 – $127,520
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$127,520

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileBuyers and Purchasing AgentsSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$46,460$31,600+$14,860
25th Percentile$58,670$37,770+$20,900
Median (50th)$75,650$46,290+$29,360
75th Percentile$99,190$55,650+$43,540
90th Percentile$127,520$64,150+$63,370
Mean (Average)$81,720$47,640+$34,080

Employment Numbers

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

486,900

employed nationwide

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

1,737,820

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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$61,190
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$60,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,310
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$56,060
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT$53,960

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Buyers and Purchasing Agents or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $29,360 (63.4% 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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salaries range from $31,600 (10th percentile) to $64,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $46,290.
How many Buyers and Purchasing Agents and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 486,900 Buyers and Purchasing Agents positions and 1,737,820 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earns $46,290. 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