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 $113,360 and $187,120, with a median of $152,190.
Purchasing Managers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 76 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $167,450. 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 | 5 | $127,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 25 | $164,902 |
| Level III — experienced | 14 | $178,542 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 9 | $221,458 |
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 | 10 | $175,623 |
| Lucid USA, Inc. | Staff Global Supply Manager | 6 | $164,078 |
| Google LLC | Senior Technology Sourcing & Procurement Specialist | 5 | $159,000 |
| Rivian Automotive, LLC | Lead Purchasing Manager | 5 | $151,931 |
| RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC | Director, Global Supply Management, Capex | 4 | $180,000 |
| Harbinger Motors Inc. | Sourcing Engineer (Commodity Manager) | 4 | $140,000 |
| Zoox, Inc. | Strategic Sourcing Manager | 3 | $151,000 |
| Siemens Mobility, Inc. | Project Procurement Manager | 2 | $132,074 |
| 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.
- Buyer at NVIDIA Corporation$142,569Santa ClaraDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25350-484775
- Project Procurement Manager at Siemens Mobility, Inc.$132,074SacramentoDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-477965
- Director, Global Supply Management, Capex at RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC$276,520Palo AltoDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-473802
- Manager, Procurement Services Master Data Management at Pacific Gas and Electric Company$205,000OaklandDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-462831
- USDS Procurement Lead -System and Compliance at TikTok U.S. Data Security Inc.$180,000San JoseDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25339-459633
- Founding Member of Technical Staff at Make Matter, Inc.$205,000Palo AltoDecided Dec 8, 2025I-200-25335-444628
- Associate Director Sourcing & Procurement at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP$177,944Santa MonicaDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25330-438698
- Strategic Sourcing Manager, Technology at Notion Labs, Inc.$180,000San FranciscoDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25321-415175
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.
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 38 certified offers. The most common variant is Lead Purchasing Manager at a median of $159,650.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Purchasing Manager | Rivian Automotive, LLC | 7 | $159,650 |
| Sr Manager | Tesla, Inc. | 6 | $193,542 |
| Staff Global Supply Manager | Lucid USA, Inc. | 6 | $160,421 |
| Hardware Commodity Specialist | Amazon.com Services LLC | 6 | $167,450 |
| HW Commodity Specialist | Amazon.com Services LLC | 5 | $177,445 |
| Director, Global Supply Management, Capex | RIVIAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC | 4 | $225,734 |
| Strategic Sourcing Manager | Zoox, Inc. | 4 | $158,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Purchasing Managers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 76 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $164,902.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Lucid USA, Inc. | 39 | $164,902 |
| Technology and software | Google LLC | 14 | $178,641 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 12 | $171,050 |
| Professional services | Harbinger Motors Inc. | 9 | $140,000 |
| Energy and utilities | Pacific Gas and Electric Company | 2 | $212,500 |
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 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Purchasing Managers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for purchasing managers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$194,510
- San Francisco$168,460
- San Diego$156,050
- Sacramento$143,260
- Los Angeles$142,120
- Riverside$132,570
Compare Purchasing Managers pay across nearby states
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 $152,190.
- How does California compare to the national median for Purchasing Managers?
- The California median is +7.2% versus the BLS national figure of $141,910.
- What is the salary range for Purchasing Managers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $92,070 and the 90th-percentile at $235,900, 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.