Jobs Similar to Purchasing Managers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to purchasing managers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Financial Managers, Project Management Specialists and First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers.
Purchasing Managers: $148,080 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Purchasing Managers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Financial ManagersSame group | 85% | $166,570+12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Project Management Specialists | 84% | $102,320−31% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 84% | $69,500−53% | Training or associate |
| 4 | General and Operations Managers | 84% | $105,770−29% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | 84% | $69,990−53% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Gambling Managers | 83% | $93,220−37% | High school |
| 7 | First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | 83% | $87,520−41% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | 83% | $96,660−35% | High school |
| 9 | Administrative Services ManagersSame group | 83% | $114,130−23% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Information Technology Project Managers | 83% | $116,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersSame group | 82% | $107,230−28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Compensation and Benefits ManagersSame group | 82% | $149,230+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Supply Chain ManagersSame group | 82% | $107,230Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Sales Managers | 82% | $148,2700% | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Chief Executives | 81% | $213,990+45% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Customs Brokers | 81% | $80,730Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 17 | Treasurers and ControllersSame group | 81% | $166,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Medical and Health Services Managers | 81% | $123,860−16% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 81% | $78,660−47% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | 80% | $78,210−47% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Financial Managers
85% similar · $166,570 (+12%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Project Management Specialists
84% similar · $102,320 (−31%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
84% similar · $69,500 (−53%) · Training or associate
- 4General and Operations Managers
84% similar · $105,770 (−29%) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
84% similar · $69,990 (−53%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Gambling Managers
83% similar · $93,220 (−37%) · High school
- 7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
83% similar · $87,520 (−41%) · Bachelor's degree
- 8Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
83% similar · $96,660 (−35%) · High school
- 9Administrative Services Managers
83% similar · $114,130 (−23%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Information Technology Project Managers
83% similar · $116,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
82% similar · $107,230 (−28%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 12Compensation and Benefits Managers
82% similar · $149,230 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Supply Chain Managers
82% similar · $107,230 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 14Sales Managers
82% similar · $148,270 (0%) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Chief Executives
81% similar · $213,990 (+45%) · Graduate degree
- 16Customs Brokers
81% similar · $80,730 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 17Treasurers and Controllers
81% similar · $166,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 18Medical and Health Services Managers
81% similar · $123,860 (−16%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
81% similar · $78,660 (−47%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
80% similar · $78,210 (−47%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than purchasing managers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers84% similar · Training or associate
- Gambling Managers83% similar · High school
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents83% similar · High school
- Administrative Services Managers83% similar · Training or associate
- Customs Brokers81% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for purchasing managers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where purchasing managers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Sales Managers (89)
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers (88)
- Logisticians (87)
- Logistics Analysts (86)
- Marketing Managers (85)
- Online Merchants (85)
- General and Operations Managers (84)
- Project Management Specialists (84)
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (83)
- Information Technology Project Managers (83)
Questions about jobs like purchasing managers
What jobs are most similar to purchasing managers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Financial Managers (85% similar), Project Management Specialists (84% similar), First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (84% similar), General and Operations Managers (84% similar) and Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers (84% similar).
Which jobs like purchasing managers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Chief Executives ($213,990, +45%; usually a graduate degree), Financial Managers ($166,570, +12%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Compensation and Benefits Managers ($149,230, +1%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with purchasing managers ($148,080). Without more preparation than purchasing managers usually need: Financial Managers and Compensation and Benefits Managers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.