Buyers and Purchasing Agents Salary
In Washington, buyers and purchasing agents earn $85,130 at the median, or about $40.93 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $138K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $83,453 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 32.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Washington?
About buyers and purchasing agents
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What this looks like in Washington
Buyers and purchasing agents pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $85K locally vs. $78K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level buyers and purchasing agents (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $138K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Buyers and Purchasing Agents salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $96K | +13% | 9,960 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $95K | +11% | 520 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $83K | -2% | 440 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $80K | -5% | 670 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $79K | -7% | 160 |
| Longview-Kelso | $77K | -10% | 160 |
| Bellingham | $76K | -11% | 300 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $75K | -12% | 190 |
| Walla Walla | $75K | -12% | 80 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $74K | -14% | 850 |
| Yakima | $68K | -20% | 230 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
Track buyers and purchasing agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a buyers and purchasing agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for buyers and purchasing agents in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new buyers and purchasing agents typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,496/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $85K locally vs. $78K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for buyers and purchasing agents?
Washington pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do buyers and purchasing agents make in Washington?
The median is $85,130 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,260, and experienced buyers and purchasing agents can clear $137,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,690/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 32.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a buyers and purchasing agents salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median buyers and purchasing agents salary is worth about $83,453 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.