Buyers and Purchasing Agents Salary
In Illinois, buyers and purchasing agents earn $78,470 at the median, or about $37.73 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $83,612 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Illinois?
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What this looks like in Illinois
Buyers and purchasing agents pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level buyers and purchasing agents (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Buyers and Purchasing Agents salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $97K | +23% | 720 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $79K | +0% | 14,260 |
| Bloomington | $75K | -4% | 210 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $75K | -5% | 300 |
| Springfield | $74K | -5% | 220 |
| Decatur | $74K | -6% | 100 |
| Rockford | $74K | -6% | 430 |
| Kankakee | $65K | -17% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track buyers and purchasing agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a buyers and purchasing agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 28.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for buyers and purchasing agents in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new buyers and purchasing agents typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,043/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is buyers and purchasing agent a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for buyers and purchasing agents?
Illinois pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do buyers and purchasing agents make in Illinois?
The median is $78,470 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,710, and experienced buyers and purchasing agents can clear $126,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,976/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 28.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a buyers and purchasing agents salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median buyers and purchasing agents salary is worth about $83,612 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do buyers and purchasing agents get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.