How to hire a purchasing manager

How to hire a purchasing manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step purchasing manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a purchasing manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new purchasing manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a purchasing manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your purchasing manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a purchasing manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

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   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a purchasing manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a purchasing manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of purchasing managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Purchasing Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Purchasing Manager	Purchasing managers plan, direct, and coordinate the buying of materials, products, or services for wholesalers, retailers, or organizations. They oversee the work of procurement-related occupations including buyers and purchasing agents.	$33-65
   Director, Procurement	The responsibilities of a procurement director revolve around ensuring the efficient and smooth flow of supplies within the company, developing procurement strategies for optimal services and operations, assessing risks, and overseeing the implementation of new policies and regulations in the company. It is essential to coordinate with analysts to identify areas with potential opportunities or those needing improvements... Show more	$47-95
   Procurement Officer	A procurement officer is primarily in charge of overseeing the procurement of supplies and equipment for an organization, prioritizing cost-efficiency and quality. It is their duty to manage the company's supply inventory, compile and analyze procurement requests, develop purchase plans, handle purchase procedures, and maintain records of all transactions, producing reports regularly... Show more	$25-48

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Supply Chain
   • Strategic Sourcing
   • Project Management
   • Supplier Performance
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Purchase Orders
   • Logistics
   • Supplier Management
   • Customer Service
   • Cost Reduction
   • Supplier Relationships
   • RFP
   • Supplier Selection
   • Commodities

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage payroll and accounts payable.
   • Lead major purchasing projects for automotive OEM vehicles.
   • Used RFI, RFP, RFQ techniques to identify, select, and engage with suppliers to ensure competitive market advantage.
   • Establish an integrate MRO supply program which eliminate specific company manage buying, inventory control and warehousing functions.
   • Manage all procurement activities to support manufacturing operations including raw materials, tooling, components and MRO services.
   • Manage several indirect sourcing RFP projects including categories for translation services, payroll services, capital equipment and engineering services.

   More purchasing manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your purchasing manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A purchasing manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, purchasing managers' average salary in florida is 39% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level purchasing managers 49% less than senior-level purchasing managers.
   • Certifications. A purchasing manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a purchasing manager's salary.

   Average purchasing manager salary

   $98,118yearly

   $47.17 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level purchasing manager salary

   $70,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average purchasing manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$119,759	$58
   2	Maine	$112,915	$54
   3	Washington	$106,363	$51
   4	New York	$102,970	$50
   5	Connecticut	$101,839	$49
   6	Michigan	$101,594	$49
   7	Massachusetts	$101,428	$49
   8	District of Columbia	$97,301	$47
   9	Pennsylvania	$95,813	$46
   10	Oregon	$95,598	$46
   11	Illinois	$94,789	$46
   12	Wisconsin	$94,618	$45
   13	Maryland	$92,342	$44
   14	North Carolina	$92,052	$44
   15	Virginia	$91,631	$44
   16	Indiana	$90,715	$44
   17	Minnesota	$90,538	$44
   18	Ohio	$89,898	$43
   19	Nevada	$87,809	$42
   20	Arizona	$86,934	$42

   Average purchasing manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	McKinsey & Company Inc	$171,562	$82.48	4
   2	Boston Consulting Group	$160,923	$77.37	2
   3	A.T. Kearney	$159,324	$76.60
   4	Meta	$158,340	$76.13	15
   5	Apple	$152,739	$73.43	15
   6	Google	$150,613	$72.41	71
   7	Airbnb	$149,570	$71.91
   8	Lyft	$148,315	$71.31	1
   9	Quidel	$146,606	$70.48
   10	Netgear	$146,499	$70.43
   11	Pure Storage	$146,003	$70.19	1
   12	NetApp	$145,993	$70.19	2
   13	Safeway	$145,851	$70.12
   14	Intuitive Surgical	$144,690	$69.56	6
   15	Rivian	$144,176	$69.32	14
   16	NVIDIA	$143,707	$69.09	3
   17	Western Digital	$143,220	$68.86	44
   18	Fluid Components International	$142,237	$68.38
   19	Infinera	$141,654	$68.10
   20	Genentech	$141,488	$68.02

4. Writing a purchasing manager job description

   A purchasing manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a purchasing manager job description:

   Purchasing manager job description example

   The successful candidate will have 5+ years of progressive experience in purchasing at well-regarded companies of similar or larger scale and complexity to Adient. This person will have a record of accomplishment in implementing category strategies and leading complex sourcing to achieve optimal value proposition for the company.
   
   The candidate must have a deep understanding of contract structures and management, including terms and conditions and contract assistance. This person must also have experience influencing across complex, matrixed organizations. This role primarily focuses on sorting and containment, contract labor, and recruiting. Knowledge and experience with MSP and RPO programs are preferred.
   
   On a personal level, the successful candidate will be an individual of unquestionable integrity who enjoys operating in a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves environment. The candidate will be a self-starter who is able to work independently in entrepreneurial and fast-paced environments. They will be decisive but collaborative.
   Major responsibilities:
   Lead the end-to-end strategic sourcing process for $100M in annual spend Develop and implement commodity strategies and actions to achieve fiscal year cost reduction goals, diversity objectives, rebates, optimized payments terms Effectively manage category supply base by establishing strong vendor relationships, managing complex negotiations, and overseeing a thorough selection process for key suppliers Serve as liaison representing Adient external towards suppliers on all commercial and business relationships content including but not limited to quality, cost, delivery, contracts, risks, and technology Provide leadership to drive clear and standardized specifications, processes, and procedures to deliver requirements for assigned categories Ensure expedient and compliant implementation of new contracts throughout organization Identify and evaluate market changes and new technologies as category leader Deliver fact-based recommendations for adoption by Adient stakeholders Communicate progress and results to senior management and stakeholder community
   The successful candidate will also have the follow attributes:
   Bachelor's Degree required, Master's Degree in Business or related field preferred5+ years of procurement experience High degree of social intelligence to influence at the most senior levels within the organization Ability to accomplish goals through persuasion and broad influence, while leaning heavily on a transparent, authentic style…able to build consensus and execute cross-functional initiatives Capable of effecting change through others by introducing new ideas/programs and helping them understand their role in implementation Strategic business-mind and ability to see the big picture Successful at prioritizing work and maintaining those priorities Able to thrive in an ambiguous environment
   Adient is committed to equal employment opportunity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. We are looking forward to receiving your application including your salary expectations and your earliest availability date.
   
   PRIMARY LOCATION
   
   Central Tech Unit Plymouth MI

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find purchasing managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any purchasing managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level purchasing managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your purchasing manager job on Zippia to find and recruit purchasing manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit purchasing managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new purchasing manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the purchasing manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a purchasing manager?