LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Buyers and Purchasing Agents in Columbia, SC · Generated August 13, 2026
Buyers and Purchasing Agents Salary in Columbia, SC $71,820/yr
$71,820
Mean: $76,530
~$56,020 est. take-home
$34.53
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$2,261/mo
47%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$56,160
Median
$71,820
75th %
$91,640
Median is in the 44th percentile of the typical range
Buyers and Purchasing Agents in other SC cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in SC.
About Buyers and Purchasing Agents salaries in Columbia, SC
Buyers and Purchasing Agents in Columbia, SC earn a median of $71,820 per year, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. The mean salary is $76,530, which tends to skew higher because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Most buyers and purchasing agents in this area earn between $56,160 and $91,640. Where you land depends on experience, employer type, and whether you have in-demand specializations.
That works out to roughly $34.53 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual hourly pay may differ for part-time or contract roles.
Career Outlook
-4% as automated procurement systems handle routine purchasing. But strategic sourcing — negotiating with key suppliers, managing supply chain risk, finding alternative vendors during disruptions — still requires experienced humans.
Worth knowing: The career pivot here is from "purchasing agent" to "strategic sourcing specialist" or "procurement analyst." Same field, higher value, better pay. Data analytics and supply chain certifications (CPSM) make the transition.
Buyers and Purchasing Agents Jobs in Columbia, SC
Median: $71,820/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a buyers and purchasing agents in Columbia?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $71,820. The average (mean) is $76,530, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a buyers and purchasing agents make per hour in Columbia?▾
About $34.53/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for buyers and purchasing agents in Columbia?▾
The middle 50% earn between $56,160 and $91,640. Below $56,160 is typically entry-level; above $91,640 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $71,820 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $71,820 | $56,020 |
| Monthly | $5,985 | $4,668 |
| Biweekly | $2,762 | $2,155 |
| Weekly | $1,381 | $1,077 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $34.53 | $26.93 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $39.46 | $30.78 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $46.04 | $35.91 |
| Daily (8h) | $276 | $215 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Buyers and Purchasing Agents: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for buyers and purchasing agents, based on BLS median salary data.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for buyers and purchasing agents across all states.
- All SC salary data — every occupation we cover in SC, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents in Lexington Park, MD — the top-paying city for buyers and purchasing agents in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Columbia.
- Project Management Specialists salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $93,644.