Purchasing Managers Salary
The median pay for a purchasing managers in North Carolina is $138,710/year ($66.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $94K at the entry level to $219K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $149,698 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 14.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $139K get you in North Carolina?
About purchasing managers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Purchasing managers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $139K locally vs. $148K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 15.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level purchasing managers (10th percentile) start around $94K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $219K or more, a $125K spread from bottom to top.
Purchasing Managers salary by metro in North Carolina
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $160K | +16% | 250 |
| Burlington | $153K | +10% | 30 |
| Fayetteville | $147K | +6% | 30 |
| Wilmington | $146K | +5% | 60 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $144K | +4% | 870 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $139K | +0% | 500 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $133K | -4% | 80 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $132K | -5% | 210 |
| Winston-Salem | $129K | -7% | 100 |
| Asheville | $116K | -16% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track purchasing managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a purchasing manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 15.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for purchasing managers in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new purchasing managers typically earn — is $94K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,654/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is purchasing manager a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $139K locally vs. $148K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for purchasing managers?
North Carolina pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $148K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $150K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do purchasing managers make in North Carolina?
The median is $138,710 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $94,240, and experienced purchasing managers can clear $219,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,277/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 15.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a purchasing managers salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 purchasing managers salary is worth about $149,698 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do purchasing managers 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.