Salary guide, May 2025
Senior Buyer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in the United States was $107,230 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $82,440 and $146,770.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-3071 Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Senior Buyer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $65,120 | $82,440 | $107,230 | $146,770 | $194,900 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31.31 | $39.64 | $51.55 | $70.56 | $93.70 |
BLS estimated 221,180 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-3071 Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $104,010 | $74,410 to $157,110 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $102,530 | $72,770 to $159,760 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $100,220 | $67,910 to $144,180 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $110,780 | $83,850 to $153,400 | 850 | 0.81 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $133,640 | $107,710 to $172,850 | 10,410 | 0.77 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $133,640 | $107,710 to $172,850 | 10,410 | 0.77 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $104,790 | $83,460 to $145,130 | 9,600 | 1.67 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $124,120 | $94,920 to $160,490 | 8,570 | 1.34 |
Rank every metro for Senior Buyer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$137,720
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$131,510
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$129,490
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$126,790
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324000)$125,580
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (NAICS 312000)$122,160
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$121,050
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$119,420
- Paper Manufacturing (NAICS 322000)$118,740
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$115,790
- Food Manufacturing (NAICS 311000)$106,550
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$105,790
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS 332000)$103,430
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$98,670
- Textile Product Mills (NAICS 314000)$98,250
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 29,990 | $91,600 | $117,660 | $155,760 |
| 311000 · 3-digit | Food Manufacturing | 4,260 | $89,080 | $106,550 | $134,650 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 4,160 | $93,110 | $121,050 | $162,170 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 3,200 | $94,520 | $126,790 | $167,470 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 3,070 | $100,650 | $131,510 | $162,160 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 2,610 | $103,030 | $137,720 | $176,870 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 2,460 | $94,400 | $127,080 | $165,200 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2,190 | $82,850 | $103,430 | $129,390 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,830 | $96,040 | $129,490 | $164,910 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 1,750 | $83,990 | $105,790 | $136,020 |
| 325400 · 4-digit | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 1,650 | $103,290 | $135,050 | $173,270 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 1,610 | $87,320 | $117,840 | $149,000 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 1,530 | $84,800 | $106,450 | $136,510 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 1,270 | $95,940 | $115,790 | $152,450 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 1,210 | $103,930 | $136,680 | $172,550 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 1,200 | $116,130 | $138,870 | $169,250 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 1,110 | $111,270 | $141,640 | $178,370 |
| 312000 · 3-digit | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 1,100 | $87,490 | $122,160 | $158,270 |
| 312100 · 4-digit | Beverage Manufacturing | 1,070 | $88,050 | $123,800 | $158,560 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 1,060 | $85,810 | $111,420 | $142,230 |
| 311900 · 4-digit | Other Food Manufacturing | 1,000 | $91,830 | $113,840 | $141,980 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 980 | $93,190 | $118,630 | $145,620 |
| 3250A2 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 900 | $82,870 | $99,260 | $128,900 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 860 | $105,850 | $148,380 | $211,510 |
| 322000 · 3-digit | Paper Manufacturing | 770 | $95,440 | $118,740 | $150,670 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 740 | $75,700 | $98,670 | $126,220 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 720 | $82,890 | $103,130 | $130,780 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 690 | $88,700 | $100,400 | $122,480 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 660 | $95,730 | $119,420 | $155,170 |
| 311600 · 4-digit | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 630 | $90,030 | $105,330 | $129,700 |
| 322200 · 4-digit | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 610 | $93,300 | $115,500 | $149,480 |
| 311500 · 4-digit | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 570 | $84,490 | $103,180 | $132,090 |
| 324000 · 3-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 570 | $95,200 | $125,580 | $154,830 |
| 324100 · 4-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 570 | $95,200 | $125,580 | $154,830 |
| 311400 · 4-digit | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 560 | $87,420 | $107,890 | $134,590 |
| 311800 · 4-digit | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 560 | $91,940 | $103,970 | $124,950 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 460 | $98,500 | $127,570 | $170,940 |
| 321000 · 3-digit | Wood Product Manufacturing | 440 | $60,480 | $91,450 | $122,820 |
| 323000 · 3-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 430 | $71,360 | $96,710 | $119,790 |
| 323100 · 4-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 430 | $71,360 | $96,710 | $119,790 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 430 | $95,510 | $110,580 | $136,880 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 420 | $77,660 | $96,240 | $129,210 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 380 | $109,690 | $147,200 | $176,080 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 360 | $75,260 | $94,650 | $110,510 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 360 | $121,380 | $160,620 | $212,630 |
| 3370A1 · 4-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 350 | $80,300 | $96,470 | $128,090 |
| 311100 · 4-digit | Animal Food Manufacturing | 300 | $80,000 | $101,310 | $137,590 |
| 321900 · 4-digit | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 300 | $48,480 | $80,430 | $98,400 |
| 311300 · 4-digit | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 280 | $94,480 | $130,960 | $160,250 |
| 311200 · 4-digit | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 270 | $90,420 | $109,850 | $133,390 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 270 | $101,670 | $141,290 | $187,800 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 270 | $93,100 | $99,430 | $160,610 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 250 | $80,520 | $97,510 | $136,430 |
| 315000 · 3-digit | Apparel Manufacturing | 230 | $75,970 | $89,960 | $139,380 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 220 | $74,830 | $101,190 | $124,090 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 220 | $84,130 | $102,770 | $137,620 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 210 | $97,930 | $134,790 | $188,870 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 210 | $68,430 | $105,650 | $118,750 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 210 | $99,650 | $132,600 | $176,180 |
| 315200 · 4-digit | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 190 | $76,860 | $93,200 | $140,780 |
| 322100 · 4-digit | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 160 | $112,520 | $124,760 | $153,240 |
| 313000 · 3-digit | Textile Mills | 150 | $68,680 | $88,720 | $124,650 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 150 | $78,940 | $89,650 | $100,750 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 140 | $93,220 | $112,200 | $134,550 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 140 | $93,610 | $108,580 | $132,620 |
| 314000 · 3-digit | Textile Product Mills | 130 | $80,340 | $98,250 | $108,450 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 130 | $94,620 | $104,250 | $121,470 |
| 331200 · 4-digit | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 120 | $84,990 | $104,010 | $144,710 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 110 | $99,510 | $120,830 | $147,570 |
| 331300 · 4-digit | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 100 | $103,680 | $123,990 | $162,680 |
| 311700 · 4-digit | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 90 | $86,250 | $96,490 | $118,950 |
| 313300 · 4-digit | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 80 | $70,020 | $85,250 | $124,950 |
| 321100 · 4-digit | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 80 | $89,560 | $116,360 | $142,350 |
| 331500 · 4-digit | Foundries | 80 | $94,920 | $112,770 | $135,520 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 80 | $66,350 | $90,640 | $106,680 |
| 314100 · 4-digit | Textile Furnishings Mills | 70 | $80,820 | $101,550 | $121,490 |
| 336500 · 4-digit | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 70 | $59,570 | $111,660 | $163,970 |
| 336900 · 4-digit | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 70 | $105,790 | $128,690 | $137,650 |
| 314900 · 4-digit | Other Textile Product Mills | 60 | $78,940 | $89,970 | $100,530 |
| 321200 · 4-digit | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 60 | $100,380 | $126,430 | $155,990 |
| 337900 · 4-digit | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 60 | $74,560 | $78,850 | $137,240 |
| 313200 · 4-digit | Fabric Mills | 50 | $75,580 | $103,720 | $126,920 |
| 334300 · 4-digit | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 50 | $62,150 | $97,050 | $118,770 |
| 312200 · 4-digit | Tobacco Manufacturing | 40 | $45,640 | $101,370 | $105,860 |
| 315900 · 4-digit | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 40 | $59,860 | $83,120 | $95,990 |
| 339910 · 5-digit | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 40 | $103,590 | $126,050 | $211,010 |
| 316000 · 3-digit | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 30 | $86,450 | $96,610 | $142,390 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Senior Buyer, separate the guaranteed salary from any discretionary bonus or commission arrangement. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $78,360 | $102,010 | $136,050 |
| May 2025 | $82,440 | $107,230 | $146,770 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about the decision behind the experience?
The useful evidence is a purchase decision resolving a production constraint without hiding commercial risk, not a list of equipment or projects. Discuss what information was available during a purchase decision resolving a production constraint without hiding commercial risk. A clear explanation exposes delegated negotiating authority versus routine order entry much better than asking whether the candidate has held the title before.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Senior Buyer?
The median annual wage for Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in the United States was $107,230 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $82,440 and $146,770. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $65,120. 90% earned less than $194,900.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Senior Buyer at a plant?
Senior Buyer is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 221,180 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
VP of Supply Chain / Director of Supply Chain pay Supply Chain Manager pay Purchasing Manager pay Strategic Sourcing Manager pay Supplier Development Engineer pay Senior Buyer pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Senior Buyer recruiting Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
The national median for Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers is $107,230 per year. For senior buyers exercising delegated negotiating authority, this BLS category serves as the relevant national benchmark. For Senior Buyer in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $107,230; the May 2024 median is $102,010. Their arithmetic difference is $5,220.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
National industry data shows significant variation, with Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing at $160,620 and Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing at $148,380. Motor Vehicle Manufacturing reports a $147,200 median. For Senior Buyer in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded. The limitations of this data include the lack of granularity for specialized plant procurement duties.
Comparison metros show higher medians than the national average. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim reports a $127,500 median, while New York-Newark-Jersey City indicates $133,640. The location quotient confirms the high density of these occupations in those specific regions. These figures reflect a broad SOC, which aggregates diverse distribution and logistics management duties rather than isolating manufacturing-specific buyer roles. Use these benchmarks with the understanding that specific manufacturing constraints may influence actual hiring offers.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The $5,220 change represents the arithmetic difference between the May 2025 and May 2024 published medians. For Senior Buyer in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $107,230; the May 2024 median is $102,010.
Can I use these figures for a procurement role outside logistics?
The provided SOC covers a range of distribution-related functions, including procurement and purchasing oversight. While related, the duties may differ from your specific commercial risk management requirements.
Why is the middle band width so large?
The $64,330 width reflects the significant compensation spread across diverse roles within the SOC 11-3071 classification. It spans everything from entry-level managers to high-level logistics executives.
How should I interpret the median change?
The $5,220 change represents the arithmetic difference between the May 2025 and May 2024 published medians. For Senior Buyer in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $107,230; the May 2024 median is $102,010. Their arithmetic difference is $5,220. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
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