Buyers and Purchasing Agents vs Human Resources Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Human Resources Managers professionals earn $64,380 more per year than Buyers and Purchasing Agents professionals — that's 85.1% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$46,460 – $127,520
Human Resources Managers$83,790 – N/A
$46,460$127,520
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Buyers and Purchasing Agents | Human Resources Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,460 | $83,790 | $-37,330 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,670 | $105,590 | $-46,920 |
| Median (50th) | $75,650 | $140,030 | $-64,380 |
| 75th Percentile | $99,190 | $189,960 | $-90,770 |
| 90th Percentile | $127,520 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $81,720 | $160,480 | $-78,760 |
Employment Numbers
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
486,900
employed nationwide
Human Resources Managers
215,520
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 Human Resources Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $176,290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $172,970 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,970 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $155,390 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $147,070 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Buyers and Purchasing Agents or Human Resources Managers?
Human Resources Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $64,380 (85.1% 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 Human Resources Managers?
Human Resources Managers salaries range from $83,790 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $140,030.
How many Buyers and Purchasing Agents and Human Resources Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 486,900 Buyers and Purchasing Agents positions and 215,520 Human Resources Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Human Resources 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 Human Resources Managers earns $140,030. 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