Not an entry-level job: it usually takes a degree plus years of related work.
Bachelor's degree
5 years or more of experience in a related job
Work as a purchasing manager
Programs that lead to this job
These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this
occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding
credentials in each.
Program
Code
Schools
Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
How long does it take to become a purchasing manager?
Typically about four years for the degree, then 5 years or more of related work first. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do purchasing managers make?
The US median is $148,080 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become a purchasing manager?
Yes, and employers also expect years of related experience first.
Where can you train to become a purchasing manager?
35 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →
Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work,
your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education
requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.
Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment
Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018).
School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.