Purchasing Manager salary
From 486 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 11-3061: Purchasing Managers
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 39% of Purchasing Manager filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Amazon. 100 filings (21% of the total), median $147,900.
- Median up 25% since FY2020. From $120,000 in FY2020 to $150,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Purchasing Manager H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 486 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Purchasing Manager jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 11-3061, Purchasing Managers). The median base salary is $148,588, 21% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $123,454 and $173,329. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 39% of filings. Seattle, WA has the most filings (58), and Amazon is the employer that files the most (100).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Purchasing Manager
Amazon100 filings · 21%$147,900
Google16 filings · 3%$179,641
Rivian15 filings · 3%$170,000
Zoox11 filings · 2%$174,013
Employers with the most Purchasing Manager filings. Bar: share of all Purchasing Manager filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 23% of filings
Mid-level · 39% of filings
Senior · 20% of filings
Expert · 19% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $111,259 | 94 |
| Level II · Qualified | $145,000 | 163 |
| Level III · Experienced | $174,013 | 82 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $185,000 | 77 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Purchasing Manager pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 11 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $147,900 | 58 |
| San Jose, CA | $170,000 | 49 |
| Austin, TX | $147,450 | 42 |
| San Francisco, CA | $174,013 | 39 |
| New York, NY | $156,104 | 33 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $162,300 | 23 |
| Houston, TX | $130,000 | 21 |
| Detroit, MI | $147,150 | 19 |
| Dallas, TX | $123,719 | 17 |
| Chicago, IL | $135,540 | 16 |
| Atlanta, GA | $150,000 | 15 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Purchasing Manager does
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of buyers, purchasing officers, and related workers involved in purchasing materials, products, and services. Includes wholesale or retail trade merchandising managers and procurement managers.
Typical tasks
- Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
- Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
- Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
- Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
- Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
- Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
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 Managers (11-3061.00). 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.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Purchasing Managers), the median annual wage was $148,080 in May 2025, with 84,320 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $148,588, 0% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $104,900 | $92,490 |
| 25th percentile | $123,454 | $115,550 |
| Median | $148,588 | $148,080 |
| 75th percentile | $173,329 | $182,270 |
| 90th percentile | $195,500 | $223,280 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $104,900 |
| 25th | $123,454 |
| 50th (median) | $148,588 |
| 75th | $173,329 |
| 90th | $195,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $120,000 | $98,000 | $142,896 | 189 |
| FY2021 | $125,000 | $105,000 | $154,000 | 223 |
| FY2022 | $130,333 | $110,000 | $160,000 | 295 |
| FY2023 | $140,000 | $114,920 | $162,000 | 225 |
| FY2024 | $147,098 | $116,800 | $168,300 | 249 |
| FY2025 | $147,900 | $119,759 | $170,000 | 275 |
| FY2026 | $150,000 | $125,005 | $175,079 | 211 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Purchasing Manager make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Purchasing Manager jobs is $148,588 (486 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $123,454 and $173,329.
What does an entry-level Purchasing Manager earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $111,259. Level I accounts for 23% of Purchasing Manager filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Purchasing Managers?
Amazon (100), Google (16) and Rivian (15) filed the most Purchasing Manager LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Purchasing Managers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($148,588) is 0% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($148,080, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.