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Salary comparison

Buyers and Purchasing Agents vs. Accountants and Auditors: Who Earns More?

Accountants and Auditors out-earn Buyers and Purchasing Agents by $6K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Buyers and Purchasing Agents land at $77,710 and Accountants and Auditors at $83,680. The education gap is real: buyers and purchasing agent programs typically require bachelor's degree, while accountants and auditor programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Buyers and Purchasing Agents is District of Columbia ($124,090); for Accountants and Auditors it's District of Columbia ($111,530).

Buyers and Purchasing Agents
Accountants and Auditors
Median salary
$77,710
$83,680
Hourly rate
$37.36/hr
$40.23/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$48,380
$56,020
Senior level (90th %)
$128,870
$144,090
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
491,430
1,449,500
Job growth (10-year)
5.8%
4.6%
Category
Business & Finance
Business & Finance
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Buyers and Purchasing Agents median pay.

State
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
Accountants and Auditors
District of Columbia
$124,090
$111,530
New Jersey
$93,250
$100,830
Maryland
$90,900
$89,370
Virginia
$89,210
$93,290
Rhode Island
$86,240
$95,820
Massachusetts
$85,970
$99,460
Washington
$85,130
$96,550
Colorado
$83,590
$97,030
Alaska
$83,460
$83,460
Connecticut
$83,030
$97,550
Delaware
$82,920
$95,020
California
$82,720
$97,050
New York
$79,460
$102,640
New Hampshire
$77,270
$83,470
Oregon
$75,050
$85,800

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Buyers and Purchasing Agents or Accountants and Auditors?

Accountants and Auditors earn more nationally. The median is $77,710 for Buyers and Purchasing Agents versus $83,680 for Accountants and Auditors, a difference of $6K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Buyers and Purchasing Agents or Accountants and Auditors?

Buyers and Purchasing Agents has the better 10-year outlook at 5.8% projected growth, compared to 4.6% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Buyers and Purchasing Agents or Accountants and Auditors?

Buyers and Purchasing Agents typically requires bachelor's degree. Accountants and Auditors requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Buyers and Purchasing Agents get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Buyers and Purchasing Agents at $124,090/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Buyers and Purchasing Agents vs. Accountants and Auditors pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Buyers and Purchasing Agents earn $124,090 vs. $111,530 for Accountants and Auditors. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Buyers and Purchasing Agents salary breakdownView →Full Accountants and Auditors salary breakdownView →Best cities for Buyers and Purchasing Agents by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Accountants and Auditors by take-home payExplore →How to become a buyers and purchasing agentsGuide →How to become a accountants and auditorsGuide →