Purchasing Managers in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California purchasing managers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $125,000 and $196,620, with a median of $159,830.
Purchasing Managers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 100 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $169,150. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 11 | $136,677 |
| Level II — qualified | 29 | $164,902 |
| Level III — experienced | 25 | $180,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 14 | $219,014 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Purchasing Managers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Services LLC | HW Commodity Specialist III | 14 | $171,050 |
| Rivian Automotive, LLC | Director, Global Supply Management, Cell Materials | 7 | $158,227 |
| Google LLC | Access Program Manager | 6 | $168,141 |
| Harbinger Motors Inc. | Material Planner | 6 | $140,000 |
| Lucid USA, Inc. | Staff Global Supply Manager | 6 | $164,078 |
| Zoox Inc. | Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager | 5 | $174,013 |
| Amazon Data Services, Inc | Hardware Commodity Specialist III | 3 | $164,902 |
| RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC | Director, Global Supply Management, Capex | 3 | $170,000 |
| AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP | Associate Director Sourcing & Procurement | 2 | $178,537 |
| Crane Data Centers Inc | Director of Procurement | 2 | $182,083 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Procurement Manager at Niagara Bottling, LLC$165,000Diamond BarDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26082-723308
- Procurement Operations Manager at BYTEDANCE INC.$140,094San JoseWage Level IDecided Mar 30, 2026I-200-26082-723790
- Director, Global Supply Management, Cell Materials at Rivian Automotive, LLC$250,000IrvineWage Level IIIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-203-26076-708378
- Procurement Portfolio Manager at Penumbra, Inc.$174,013AlamedaWage Level IIIDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-707258
- Manager 3, Commodity at Western Digital Technologies, Inc.$116,800San JoseDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-705805
- Manager 3, Commodity at Western Digital Technologies, Inc.$116,800San JoseDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-705807
- HW Commodity Specialist II at Amazon.com Services LLC$135,000SunnyvaleDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-698010
- Manager, Indirect Procurement at Guardant Health, Inc.$136,677Palo AltoWage Level IDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-699505
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Purchasing Managers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Purchasing Managers specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 59 certified offers. The most common variant is Manager 3, Commodity at a median of $183,292.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manager 3, Commodity | Sandisk Technologies, Inc. | 12 | $183,292 |
| Hardware Commodity Specialist | Amazon.com Services LLC | 9 | $164,902 |
| Lead Global Supply Manager | Lucid USA, Inc. | 8 | $154,535 |
| Senior Strategic Sourcing Manager | Zoox Inc. | 7 | $174,013 |
| HW Commodity Specialist | Amazon.com Services LLC | 7 | $177,445 |
| Lead Purchasing Manager | Rivian Automotive, LLC | 5 | $151,931 |
| Director, Demand Management Analysis | Infineon Technologies Americas Corp. | 5 | $230,010 |
| Director of Procurement | Crane Data Centers Inc | 3 | $182,083 |
| Sr. Procurement Specialist | X.AI LLC | 3 | $170,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Purchasing Managers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 100 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $170,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Rivian Automotive, LLC | 51 | $170,000 |
| Technology and software | Google LLC | 21 | $170,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 16 | $167,450 |
| Professional services | Harbinger Motors Inc. | 9 | $140,000 |
| Energy and utilities | Lightsource Renewable Energy US, LLC | 2 | $212,500 |
| Healthcare | Guardant Health, Inc. | 1 | $136,677 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
5 years or more
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.3 / 5
Administration and Management
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Management of Personnel Resources
Technical
- 3.9 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Develop and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
- 02
Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them to determine product availability and terms of sales.
- 03
Prepare bid awards requiring board approval.
- 04
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in buying, selling, and distributing materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
- 05
Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
- 06
Review, evaluate, and approve specifications for issuing and awarding bids.
- 07
Administer online purchasing systems.
- 08
Prepare and process requisitions and purchase orders for supplies and equipment.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+3.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for purchasing managers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$198,980
- San Francisco$170,440
- San Diego$158,620
- Los Angeles$156,400
- Sacramento$146,750
- Riverside$131,070
Compare Purchasing Managers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Purchasing Managers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Purchasing Managers in California is $159,830.
- How does California compare to the national median for Purchasing Managers?
- The California median is +8.2% versus the BLS national figure of $147,784.
- What is the salary range for Purchasing Managers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $99,560 and the 90th-percentile at $241,340, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Purchasing Managers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 3.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Purchasing Managers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.