jobfacts

Purchasing manager

Purchasing managers and directors — SOC 2020 1134

Purchasing managers and directors (not retail) plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the purchasing functions of industrial, commercial, government organisations and public agencies to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Also calledProcurement managerPurchase managerSourcing managerHead of purchasingDirector of contractsBid production managerand 16 more titles
Typical full-time pay£58,0002025 Provisional
People in the job62,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month1,500↑ 0.6%on last year · 124th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025

Half of full-time purchasing managers earn between £44,800 and £82,700 a year.

What full-time purchasing managers earn, 2025
£58,000 typical£36,500lowest 10%£87,200top 20%n/ptop 10%
Middle half (£44,800–£82,700)n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less than£36,500
Lowest 20% earn less than£41,500
25%£44,800
Median£58,000
75%£82,700
Top 20% earn more than£87,200
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £58,000
North West!£78,400
London!£69,100
Yorkshire and The Humber!£61,200
South East£56,000
South West!£51,700
Wales!£48,000
Scotland!£45,500
North EastNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £58,000
North West£78,400 (small sample)
London£69,100 (small sample)
Yorkshire and The Humber£61,200 (small sample)
South East£56,000
South West£51,700 (small sample)
Wales£48,000 (small sample)
Scotland£45,500 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £51,200
  • 2024 £55,000
  • 2025 Provisional£58,000
↑ 13% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 1,500 jobs for purchasing managers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (3 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20262,072
Jul 20261,855
Jun 20261,653
May 20261,660
Apr 20261,402
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20261,207
Jan 20261,430
Dec 2025868
Nov 20251,605
Oct 20251,624
Sept 20251,574
Aug 20251,502
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20251,952
Apr 20251,408
Mar 20251,913
Feb 20251,710
Jan 20251,418
Dec 20241,026
Nov 20241,273
Oct 20241,578
Sept 20241,490
Aug 20241,387
Jul 20241,597
Jun 20241,525
May 20241,663
Apr 20241,699
Mar 20241,660
Feb 20241,755
Jan 20242,167
Dec 20231,655
Nov 20231,989
Oct 20231,851
Sept 20231,681
Aug 20231,890
Jul 20231,988
Jun 20232,511
May 20232,456
Apr 20231,969
Mar 20232,642
Feb 20232,552
Jan 20232,828
Dec 20222,416
Nov 20222,864
Oct 20223,041
Sept 20222,745
Aug 20222,724
Jul 20222,898
Jun 20222,923
May 20223,500
Apr 20222,711
Mar 20223,336
Feb 20223,163
Jan 20223,136
Dec 20212,721
Nov 20212,682
Oct 20212,776
Sept 20212,544
Aug 20212,556
Jul 20212,833
Jun 20212,575
May 20212,421
Apr 20211,973
Mar 20212,960
Feb 20211,823
Jan 20211,810
Dec 20201,679
Nov 20201,605
Oct 20201,604
Sept 20201,506
Aug 20201,289
Jul 20201,336
Jun 20201,145
May 20201,036
Apr 20201,308
Mar 20202,329
Feb 20202,719
Jan 20202,464
Dec 20191,778
Nov 20192,409
Oct 20192,452
Sept 20192,397
Aug 20192,292
Jul 20192,989
Jun 20192,954
May 20192,904
Apr 20191,934
Mar 20192,466
Feb 20192,426
Jan 20192,556
Dec 20181,620
Nov 20182,287
Oct 20182,309
Sept 20182,293
Aug 20182,122
Jul 20182,219
Jun 20182,270
May 20182,364
Apr 20182,304
Mar 20182,547
Feb 20182,456
Jan 20182,877
Dec 20171,817
Nov 20172,246
Oct 20172,344
Sept 20172,088
Aug 20172,236
Jul 20172,348
Jun 20173,093
May 20172,517
Apr 20172,450
Mar 20172,688
Feb 20172,564
Jan 20172,949
Is there a shortage of purchasing managers?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
12%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for functional managers and directors, which includes purchasing managers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London1,016
Manchester153
Birmingham149
Leeds103
Bristol, City of99
City of Edinburgh69
Westmorland and Furness63
Glasgow City60
Milton Keynes54
Nottingham50
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where purchasing managers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 197 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from China, India, Japan, ranking it 75th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of purchasing managers
n/p
23%!
28%!
20%!
26%!
n/p
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–24Not published
25–3423% (small sample)
35–4428% (small sample)
45–5420% (small sample)
55–6426% (small sample)
65+Not published
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent56%
Higher education below degree!6.9%
A levels or equivalent21%
GCSEs or equivalent!11%
Other qualifications!3.8%
No qualifications!1.3%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent56%
Higher education below degree6.9% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent21%
GCSEs or equivalent11% (small sample)
Other qualifications3.8% (small sample)
No qualifications1.3% (small sample)

Main employers: general public administration activities (5.9%), regulation of the activities of providing health care, education, cultural services and other social services, excluding social security (5.2%), defence activities (5%), construction of residential and non-residential buildings (3.6%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
56%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
1
from level 6
Apprenticeships take
2½ years
typically

Routes in

You can get into this job through:

University

There is no set entry route to become a purchasing manager, though it may be useful to study for a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like:

  • business studies
  • logistics and procurement
  • purchasing and supply
  • marketing
  • supply chain management
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could start as a trainee purchasing manager by doing a:

  • Procurement and Supply Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Commercial Procurement and Supply Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Senior Procurement and Supply Chain Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These can take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You may be able to join a company as an administrator or assistant in a purchasing department. You could work your way up as you get more experience.

You might also take professional qualifications while working, through an organisation like the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.

Apply directly

You can apply directly for jobs if you have several years' experience in buying and purchasing. If you have a degree, you may be able to join a graduate management training scheme.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply for professional development training and industry contacts, which could help with your career.

Further information

You can get more advice about becoming a purchasing manager from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for purchasing manager. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

1 for this job
Level 6About 2½ years

Senior procurement and supply chain professional

You gain
CIPS L6 Professional diploma in procurement and supply
Leads to
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply
Employers may ask for
Typically an apprentice might be expected to have already achieved GCSE Maths and English on entry. An individual will have also gained successful completion…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • determines what goods, services and equipment need to be sourced
  • devises purchasing policies, decides on whether orders should be put out to tender and evaluates suppliers’ bids
  • negotiates prices and contracts with suppliers and draws up contract documents
  • arranges for quality checks of incoming goods and ensures suppliers deliver on time
  • interviews suppliers’ representatives and visits trade fair
  • researches and identifies new products and suppliers
  • stays abreast of and ensures adherence to relevant legislation regarding tendering and procurement procedures

Skills

  • manage staff
  • give instructions to staff
  • have computer literacy
  • use different communication channels
  • apply airport standards and regulations
  • comply with legal regulations
  • encourage teams for continuous improvement
  • improve rail service delivery
  • liaise with transportation companies
  • perform market research
  • perform project management
  • provide assistance to a variety of airport users
  • work in an aviation team
  • write work-related reports

Knowledge

  • airport environmental regulations
  • financial capability
  • health and safety measures in transportation
  • project management
  • transportation methods
  • airport operating environment
  • airspace system block upgrades
  • air traffic management

Suits people who like

  • Leading and persuading
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for corporate managers and directors, a group of 20 jobs that includes purchasing managers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 3%about 78,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 20351.4 millionincluding people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service 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. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

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