Purchasing Managers vs Retail Salespersons: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Retail Salespersons professionals earn $34,580 more per year than Purchasing Managers professionals.
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Purchasing Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $170,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $168,460 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $152,380 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $138,270 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $137,980 |
Best Cities for Retail Salespersons
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $43,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $42,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $39,180 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $37,500 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $37,350 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Purchasing Managers or Retail Salespersons?
Retail Salespersons professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $34,580 (null% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Purchasing Managers?
Salary data for Purchasing Managers is not currently available.
What is the salary range for Retail Salespersons?
Retail Salespersons salaries range from $25,600 (10th percentile) to $47,930 (90th percentile), with a median of $34,580.
How many Purchasing Managers and Retail Salespersons jobs are there?
There are approximately N/A Purchasing Managers positions and 3,800,250 Retail Salespersons positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Retail Salespersons to Purchasing Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Purchasing Managers has a median salary of $0 while Retail Salespersons earns $34,580. 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