Purchasing Agent salary

At a glance

• Mostly Level II (mid-level). 40% of Purchasing Agent filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
• Top filer: Tesla. 73 filings (12% of the total), median $135,264.
• Median up 20% since FY2020. From $75,000 in FY2020 to $89,765 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.

Purchasing Agent H-1B salary overview

Employers filed 630 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Purchasing Agent jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 13-1023, Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products). The median base salary is $85,000, 31% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $70,000 and $109,795. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 40% of filings. San Jose, CA has the most filings (50), and Tesla is the employer that files the most (73).

Top employers for Purchasing Agent

Tesla73 filings · 12%$135,264 Amazon31 filings · 5%$95,100 Siemens11 filings · 2%$74,687

Employers with the most Purchasing Agent filings. Bar: share of all Purchasing Agent filings. Figure: median base salary.

Pay by level

Purchasing Agent pay by city

Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.

What a Purchasing Agent does

Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.

Typical tasks

• Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
• Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
• Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
• Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
• Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
• Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.

Preparation

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

O*NET occupation: Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products (13-1023.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Salary details

Salary range