The best procurement and purchasing programs near Smithfield, Virginia pair focused training with a state median wage of about $89,210 a year for buyers and purchasing agents (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most students finish a 6-to-12-month procurement certificate or a business or supply chain degree; the voluntary ISM CPSM credential can come later with experience.
Procurement and purchasing professionals source suppliers, negotiate contracts, issue purchase orders, and manage vendor performance. Training typically covers sourcing, negotiation, contract basics, and the ERP systems purchasing runs on.
Key Facts
Virginia median wage: $89,210/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Virginia employment: 22,120 buyers and purchasing agents (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Virginia location quotient: 1.7 (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Typical program length: 6-12 months (certificate) to 2 years (associate) (Source: IPEDS, 2024)
Procurement & Purchasing Schools near Smithfield
Compare procurement and purchasing schools near Smithfield
BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from
federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings
are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single
trade. Distance is measured from Smithfield, Virginia.
Schools closest to Smithfield, Virginia are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from Smithfield, Virginia is shown for reference.
The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation,
earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within
each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it.
*Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is
completed in person. Read the full methodology.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 8 schools
within 51 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
8 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Median Graduate Earnings by School - Best Procurement & Purchasing Programs in Smithfield, Virginia (2026)Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard - median earnings of all graduates at each school (not a single program).
Median graduate earnings by school for schools serving Best Procurement & Purchasing Programs in Smithfield, Virginia (2026)
School
Median graduate earnings
Brightpoint Community College
$50,344
Paul D Camp Community College
$48,904
Tidewater Community College
$48,786
Virginia Peninsula Community College
$47,856
Rappahannock Community College
$47,349
Procurement & Purchasing Pay and Job Outlook
Annual Wage by Percentile, United States - Buyers and Purchasing AgentsSource: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Buyers and Purchasing Agents annual wage percentiles
Percentile
Annual wage
10th
$48,380
25th
$60,800
50th (median)
$77,710
75th
$100,820
90th
$128,870
Projected employment growth, United States, Buyers and Purchasing Agents, 2024-2034Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034
Buyers and Purchasing Agents employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year
Employment
2024
522,200
2034 projected
552,300
Percent change
+5.8%
Virginia Procurement & Purchasing Quick Facts
Procurement-Purchasing-Management Salary in U.S.
Median Salary$88,016$42.31/hr
Average Salary$94,401$45.38/hr
Salary Range
$92,49010th pctl
$88,016Median
$223,28090th pctl
10th Percentile$92,490 $44.47/hr
25th Percentile$115,550 $55.55/hr
75th Percentile$182,270 $87.63/hr
90th Percentile$223,280 $107.35/hr
Employment & Outlook
Total Employed575,750
Growth (2024-2034)5.4%
Annual Openings58,600
Jobs per 1,0000.5
How to Start a Procurement & Purchasing Career in Virginia
Finish high school or earn a GED. Math, business, and computer coursework are useful preparation.
Complete procurement or supply chain training. Choose a procurement certificate (often 6-12 months) or a business or supply chain degree program covering sourcing, negotiation, and contract management.
Learn the systems. Purchasing runs on ERP software, spreadsheets, and contract documents; programs and entry roles build fluency in all three.
Gain purchasing experience. Purchasing assistant, expediter, inventory, and buyer trainee roles teach supplier management under experienced buyers.
Consider the ISM CPSM credential. With experience, the Certified Professional in Supply Management is a widely recognized voluntary mark for practitioners.
No license is required for purchasing work. The Institute for Supply Management’s CPSM is the field’s most recognized voluntary credential and expects professional experience before certification.
Pathways into the Field
Common entry paths are a procurement or supply chain certificate, a business degree, or starting in purchasing support roles - assistant, expediter, inventory clerk - and advancing to buyer with experience.
What You Study
Sourcing and supplier evaluation
Negotiation and contract fundamentals
Purchase order and inventory management
Cost analysis and spreadsheets
ERP and e-procurement systems
Tips for Choosing a Procurement & Purchasing Program
Confirm accreditation and how recognized the credential is with employers.
Look for hands-on training in ERP system exposure, negotiation practice, and internship placement.
Compare flexible schedules (day/evening/online) that match your availability.
Ask about job-search support with local employers.
Review certification-prep resources and post-completion support.
Popular Online Programs In Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does procurement and purchasing training take near Smithfield?
Certificate programs in procurement and purchasing typically run 6 to 12 months. Many buyer roles prefer a bachelor's degree in business or supply chain, so some students continue into degree programs. Completion time depends on schedule and credential.
How much do buyers and purchasing agents earn in Virginia?
According to BLS OEWS (May 2025), buyers and purchasing agents in Virginia earned a median annual wage of about $89,210. Pay varies with experience, employer, and specialization. The 10th-to-90th percentile range was about $51,350 to $149,150 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many procurement and purchasing schools are near Smithfield?
The schools listed above are within driving distance of Smithfield. Compare them by tuition, program length, BOC Score, and the credential each one awards.
Do purchasing professionals need a license?
No license is required for purchasing work. The Institute for Supply Management's CPSM is the field's most recognized voluntary credential and expects professional experience before certification.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
