SOC 13-1020 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Buyers and Purchasing Agents — Mississippi
Mississippi · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $71,850 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $77,710.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $71,850 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $77,710. Half of workers earn between $53,940 and $92,950. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $43,370 and the ninetieth at $117,960.
The area has 2,240 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.61 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Mississippi ranks 39th by median wage. Gulfport leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,770. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 142nd of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,370 | −44.2% |
| 25th | $53,940 | −30.6% |
| Median (50th) | $71,850 | −7.5% |
| 75th | $92,950 | +19.6% |
| 90th | $117,960 | +51.8% |
| Mean | $76,670 | −1.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Mississippi
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gulfport | $78,770 | 520 | |
| 2 | Hattiesburg | $66,540 | 90 | |
| 3 | Jackson | $64,270 | 480 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average, so the median of $71,850 goes as far as $82,586 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$71,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$82,586US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $71,850 a year, 7.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,370 to $117,960 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,240 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 39th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Gulfport, at $78,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Buyers and Purchasing Agents in Mississippi?
The median annual wage is $71,850, or $34.54 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $77,710, so pay in Mississippi is 7.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Mississippi earns more than $117,960 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,370 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Gulfport, at $78,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,240 jobs in this occupation in Mississippi. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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