Buyers and Purchasing Agents vs Cost Estimators: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Cost Estimators professionals earn $1,420 more per year than Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals — that's 1.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Buyers and Purchasing Agents earns $127,520 compared to $128,640 for Cost Estimators.
Salary Range Comparison
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$46,460 – $127,520
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
$46,330$128,640
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Buyers and Purchasing Agents | Cost Estimators | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,460 | $46,330 | +$130 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,670 | $59,830 | $-1,160 |
| Median (50th) | $75,650 | $77,070 | $-1,420 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,190 | $99,630 | $-440 |
| 90th Percentile | $127,520 | $128,640 | $-1,120 |
| Mean (Average) | $81,720 | $83,160 | $-1,440 |
Employment Numbers
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
486,900
employed nationwide
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
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 Cost Estimators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $104,190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $103,030 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86,540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Buyers and Purchasing Agents or Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $1,420 (1.9% 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 Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators salaries range from $46,330 (10th percentile) to $128,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $77,070.
How many Buyers and Purchasing Agents and Cost Estimators jobs are there?
There are approximately 486,900 Buyers and Purchasing Agents positions and 219,530 Cost Estimators positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Cost Estimators 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 Cost Estimators earns $77,070. 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