Purchasing Agent
M-11M Other Estimating, projects and operations jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 13-1023.00
- work over
40 h a week - 50%
- load index
from O*NET data - 1.4/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +14.6%
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
All pay records and context (3)
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $80,000 · Level II $95,354 · Level III $90,000 · Level IV $105,330 (31 filings, TX) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- DOL prevailing-wage levels I-IV for the whole occupation (wage tiers set by DOL, not job titles or seniority): Level I $65,000 · Level II $77,000 · Level III $86,104 · Level IV $130,000 (7 filings, AZ) Base wages offered on H-1B/E-3 Labor Condition Applications (TX and AZ, FY2026 Q1-Q3); covers only employers who filed. source
- State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Contract Specialist I $40,918 to $61,130 · Contract Specialist II $45,521 to $71,055 · Contract Specialist III $51,158 to $81,351 · Contract Specialist IV $57,614 to $93,138 · Contract Specialist V $65,104 to $106,634 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03 Projection for the wider group 13-1020 (Buyers and Purchasing Agents).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03 Projection for the wider group 13-1020 (Buyers and Purchasing Agents).
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03 Projection for the wider group 13-1020 (Buyers and Purchasing Agents).
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03 Projection for the wider group 13-1020 (Buyers and Purchasing Agents).
- Texas
- +14.6% jobs · about 4,290 openings a year (38,010 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +5.8% jobs · about 52,200 openings a year (522,200 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2025, n = 20 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2025, n = 20 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 95% · irregular 5% · seasonal 0%
Physical load 1.4 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.46, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.27, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (1.46, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.27, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing2.11
- Walking or running1.63
- Kneeling or crawling1.4
- Bending or twisting1.32
- Keeping balance1.21
- Climbing ladders1.1
Exposure
- Outdoors, all weather1.79
- Cramped space1.41
- Very hot or cold1.37
- Hazardous equipment1.15
- High places1.05
- Hazardous conditions1.05
- Protective gear1.05
Getting in
- License
- No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).
- Degree
- 75% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: Bachelor's Degree
- Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years of related experience is the most common answer (35% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 4 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 7
- M Purchasing Manager O*NET lists Purchasing Managers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.95.
- M Purchasing Clerk O*NET lists Procurement Clerks as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.90.
- M Logistics Analyst O*NET lists Logistics Analysts as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.87.
- M Supply Chain Manager O*NET lists Supply Chain Managers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.88.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Purchase machinery, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, or services necessary for the operation of an establishment. Purchase raw or semifinished materials for manufacturing. May negotiate contracts.
- Monitor and follow applicable laws and regulations.
- Purchase the highest quality merchandise at the lowest possible price and in correct amounts.
- Prepare purchase orders, solicit bid proposals, and review requisitions for goods and services.
- Formulate policies and procedures for bid proposals and procurement of goods and services.
- Write and review product specifications, maintaining a working technical knowledge of the goods or services to be purchased.
- Analyze price proposals, financial reports, and other data and information to determine reasonable prices.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Negotiation
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Speaking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Critical Thinking
Sources (3)
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 13-1023.00 Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
