How long does procurement and purchasing specialist training take in Arkansas?

Most paths into the procurement and purchasing specialist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for procurement and purchasing specialists in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Procurement and Purchasing Specialist in Arkansas (2026)

Q: How much do procurement and purchasing specialists earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), procurement and purchasing specialists in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $75,870.

Q: What is the job outlook for procurement and purchasing specialists in Arkansas?

Arkansas currently employs approximately 4,510 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 27, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas employs about 4,510 procurement and purchasing specialists earning a median $75,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most procurement and purchasing specialists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Arkansas.

Key Facts

Median wage (Arkansas): $75,870/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Arkansas: 4,510 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.09x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 5.8% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Procurement and Purchasing Specialist Schools in Arkansas

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 the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Arkansas State University-Newport	57.3	$3,312 - $15,060	$50,129	44%	Yes*	81 mi
2	Arkansas State University Three Rivers	53.0	Contact school for pricing	$33,964	30%	Yes*	48 mi
3	East Arkansas Community College	44.3	Contact school for pricing	$42,176	49%	Yes*	91 mi
4	Coahoma Community College	44.1	Contact school for pricing	$31,140	39%	Yes*	114 mi
5	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College	41.7	Contact school for pricing	$41,807	34%	Yes*	13 mi
6	Missouri State University-West Plains	40.0	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	Yes*	125 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location 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.

Arkansas employs approximately 4,510 procurement and purchasing specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $75,870 ¹. Nationally, procurement and purchasing specialist employment is projected to grow 5.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 52,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a procurement and purchasing specialist in Arkansas, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Procurement and Purchasing Specialist Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Purchasing Managers Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), purchasing managers wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	2,600	$176,300	$199,040	$95,850	$339,000
Memphis	2,350	$78,356	$84,144	$50,916	$126,419
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	1,070	$75,970	$81,177	$46,814	$126,824
Fort Smith	290	$71,439	$78,096	$45,723	$118,533
Jonesboro	190	$66,766	$76,065	$44,724	$125,872
Texarkana	130	$60,390	$67,210	$37,940	$99,980
Hot Springs	80	$51,750	$56,540	$34,860	$79,480

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Arkansas): $75,870 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Procurement and Purchasing Specialist in Arkansas

How to become a procurement and purchasing specialist in Arkansas? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for procurement and purchasing specialists in Arkansas.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do procurement and purchasing specialists earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for procurement and purchasing specialists in Arkansas is $75,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $42,710 and experienced professionals can earn $135,830 or more ¹.

How to Become a Procurement and Purchasing Specialist in Arkansas

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Arkansas training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Arkansas that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to procurement and purchasing specialists in Arkansas before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for procurement and purchasing specialists in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 4,510 procurement and purchasing specialists ¹. Nationally, procurement and purchasing specialist employment is projected to grow 5.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Arkansas.

How much do procurement and purchasing specialists earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for procurement and purchasing specialists in Arkansas is $75,870, which is $220 above the national median of $75,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)