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

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 Mississippi?

In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information.

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), procurement and purchasing specialists in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $71,850. Employment concentration in Mississippi is roughly 0.61 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

Mississippi currently employs approximately 2,240 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

Mississippi buyers and purchasing agents earn a median annual wage of $71,850 ($34.54/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,240 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -7.5% below the national median of $77,710 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $71,850 ($34.54/hr)
25th percentile: $53,940 per year
75th percentile: $92,950 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $117,960 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $43,370 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 2,240
Versus national median: -7.5% below the U.S. median of $77,710
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.61 - this occupation is less concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 27, 2026.

Mississippi employs about 2,240 procurement and purchasing specialists earning a median $71,850 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 Mississippi.

Key Facts

Median wage (Mississippi): $71,850/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Mississippi: 2,240 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.61x 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 Mississippi

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	ITI Technical College	65.6	Contact school for pricing	$67,004	57%	—	187 mi
2	Herzing University-Birmingham	46.8	Contact school for pricing	$58,575	28%	Yes*	162 mi
3	East Arkansas Community College	44.3	Contact school for pricing	$42,176	49%	Yes*	173 mi
4	Coahoma Community College	44.1	Contact school for pricing	$31,140	39%	Yes*	120 mi
5	Louisiana Delta Community College	41.3	Contact school for pricing	$37,409	29%	Yes*	149 mi
6	Herzing University-New Orleans	37.5	$13,450 - $28,414	$58,575	30%	Yes*	194 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.

Mississippi employs approximately 2,240 procurement and purchasing specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $71,850 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 Mississippi, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Procurement and Purchasing Specialist Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

Purchasing Managers Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	2,350	$78,356	$84,144	$50,916	$126,419
Gulfport-Biloxi	600	$85,778	$90,409	$55,337	$126,291
Jackson	560	$67,473	$77,350	$45,660	$123,527
Hattiesburg	90	$66,540	$73,850	$40,940	$121,670

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 (Mississippi): $71,850 per year ¹

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

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

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 Mississippi? The median annual wage for procurement and purchasing specialists in Mississippi is $71,850 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,370 and experienced professionals can earn $117,960 or more ¹.

How to Become a Procurement and Purchasing Specialist in Mississippi

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 2,240 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 Mississippi? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Mississippi.

How much do procurement and purchasing specialists earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for procurement and purchasing specialists in Mississippi is $71,850, which is $3,800 below the national median of $75,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In Mississippi

Best Trade Schools in Mississippi (2026)

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

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)