Purchasing Managers: 84,320 jobs, median pay $148,080 · where the jobs are in the U.S.

84,320

Jobs in the U.S.

People employed, May 2025

$148,080

Median pay a year

Middle half: $115,550–$182,270

6,400

Annual openings

10-year change: +4%

283

LCA filings, last 4 quarters

+15.5% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 218 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $171,810 · LCA filings 207,370$171,81020

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $172,150 · LCA filings 84,180$172,1508

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXMedian pay $137,820 · LCA filings 123,400$137,82012

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $155,080 · LCA filings 83,250$155,0808

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $156,400 · LCA filings 172,800$156,40017

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $139,050 · LCA filings 152,630$139,05015

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAMedian pay $165,910 · LCA filings 212,590$165,91021

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $174,640 · LCA filings 71,940$174,6407

Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MIMedian pay $163,660 · LCA filings 111,490$163,66011

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $155,500 · LCA filings 71,470$155,5007

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 700 · LCA filings 29$198,98070029

Trenton–Princeton, NJEmployment 330 · LCA filings 1$180,3403301

Denver–Aurora–Centennial, COEmployment 980 · LCA filings 0$180,0009800

Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AREmployment 410 · LCA filings 1$176,3004101

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployment 1,940 · LCA filings 7$174,6401,9407

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployers with LCA filings 9 · Employment 1,2603891,260

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployers with LCA filings 14 · Employment 7002914700

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployers with LCA filings 16 · Employment 1,32027161,320

Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TXEmployers with LCA filings 11 · Employment 9302711930

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GAEmployers with LCA filings 10 · Employment 2,59021102,590

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV

New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $157,498 · Level III $189,176 · Level IV $220,834$125,840$157,498$189,176$220,834

Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $157,893 · Level III $176,800 · Level IV $195,707$138,986$157,893$176,800$195,707

Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington, TXLevel II $123,677 · Level III $149,157 · Level IV $174,658$98,176$123,677$149,157$174,658

Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $137,550 · Level III $162,698 · Level IV $187,845$112,403$137,550$162,698$187,845

Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $134,576 · Level III $161,574 · Level IV $188,552$107,598$134,576$161,574$188,552

Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $122,637 · Level III $148,200 · Level IV $173,742$97,094$122,637$148,200$173,742

Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GALevel II $139,714 · Level III $171,725 · Level IV $203,715$107,723$139,714$171,725$203,715

Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $151,549 · Level III $183,914 · Level IV $216,258$119,205$151,549$183,914$216,258

Detroit–Warren–Dearborn, MILevel II $138,154 · Level III $164,445 · Level IV $190,757$111,842$138,154$164,445$190,757

Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $134,222 · Level III $161,533 · Level IV $188,864$106,891$134,222$161,533$188,864

Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $149,136 · Level III $173,722 · Level IV $198,307$124,550$149,136$173,722$198,307

San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CALevel II $173,680 · Level III $205,650 · Level IV $237,619$141,710$173,680$205,650$237,619

San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $147,451 · Level III $178,443 · Level IV $209,456$116,438$147,451$178,443$209,456

Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos, TXLevel II $127,899 · Level III $154,918 · Level IV $181,938$100,880$127,899$154,918$181,938

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT

Business Administration, Management and OperationsCIP 52.02OPT · up to 12 months22,302OPT · up to 12 months

See Purchasing Managers in every metro area

All 218 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology