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

Most people become a Procurement and Purchasing Specialist in Montana through a short purchasing or supply-chain course plus workplace experience; most states do not license this role.

Do procurement and purchasing specialists need a license in Montana?

No statewide license is required for procurement and purchasing specialists in Montana. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), procurement and purchasing specialists in Montana earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,850. Employment concentration in Montana is roughly 0.76 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 Montana?

Montana currently employs approximately 1,230 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

Montana buyers and purchasing agents earn a median annual wage of $62,850 ($30.22/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -19.1% below the national median of $77,710 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,850 ($30.22/hr)
25th percentile: $49,860 per year
75th percentile: $78,980 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $100,420 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $41,690 per year
Workers employed in Montana: 1,230
Versus national median: -19.1% below the U.S. median of $77,710
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.76 - this occupation is less concentrated in Montana than the national average

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

Montana employs about 1,230 procurement and purchasing specialists earning a median $62,850 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Procurement and Purchasing Specialist here means completing a short purchasing or supply-chain course plus workplace experience; most states do not license this role.

Compare Procurement and Purchasing Specialist Schools in Montana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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 (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Walla Walla Community College	70.4	$5,279 in-state / $6,700 out-of-state	$56,719	38%	Yes*	352 mi
2	Spokane Community College	68.4	$5,461 in-state / $6,612 out-of-state	$52,567	33%	Yes*	304 mi
3	Spokane Falls Community College	58.1	$5,461 in-state / $6,612 out-of-state	$44,489	32%	Yes*	308 mi
4	Central Wyoming College	48.5	$4,800 in-state / $11,100 out-of-state	$43,068	37%	Yes*	296 mi
5	North Idaho College	46.4	$3,396 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state	$50,312	38%	Yes*	277 mi
6	Great Falls College Montana State University	45.7	$4,028 in-state / $12,911 out-of-state	$48,830	34%	Yes*	42 mi
7	Stone Child College	34.9	$3,610	$45,263	34%	—	108 mi
8	Fort Peck Community College	33.2	$2,250	$31,073	17%	—	283 mi
9	Little Big Horn College	20.6	$3,200	$27,429	11%	—	191 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.

Montana employs approximately 1,230 procurement and purchasing specialists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,850 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 Montana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: short purchasing, procurement, or supply-chain course (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short purchasing or supply-chain course plus workplace experience; most states do not license this role
Median wage (Montana): $62,850 per year ¹

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

How to become a Procurement and Purchasing Specialist in Montana? Complete a short purchasing or supply-chain course plus workplace experience; most states do not license this role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short purchasing or supply-chain course plus workplace experience; most states do not license this role. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Montana? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the Montana path.

What do procurement and purchasing specialists earn in Montana? The median annual wage for procurement and purchasing specialists in Montana is $62,850 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $41,690 and experienced professionals can earn $100,420 or more ¹.

How to Become a Procurement and Purchasing Specialist in Montana

Complete a short purchasing course or train on the job. Finish a procurement or supply-chain certificate, or learn inside a purchasing department. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Optional purchasing certificates. Industry purchasing certificates can help hiring. They are not a state occupational license.
Most states do not license this role. Do not apply to a licensing board. Contractor licenses are a different credential.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Procurement and Purchasing Specialist License Requirements in Montana

Most states do not license procurement or purchasing managers. The path is a short course or on-the-job training, not a licensing board.

Typical path

Complete a short course or OJT.
Optional purchasing certificates.
Do not apply to a licensing board for this role.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Procurement and Purchasing Specialist Wages by Metro Area in Montana

Purchasing Managers Wages by Metro Area in Montana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Billings	250	$64,694	$70,680	$44,977	$106,669
Bozeman	170	$65,420	$72,090	$45,920	$101,610
Missoula	150	$57,540	$62,070	$39,520	$92,180
Helena	120	$63,600	$71,680	$41,290	$119,430
Great Falls	100	$66,040	$72,320	$43,260	$103,610

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for procurement and purchasing specialists in Montana? Montana currently employs approximately 1,230 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 Montana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Montana.

How much do procurement and purchasing specialists earn in Montana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for procurement and purchasing specialists in Montana is $62,850, which is $12,800 below the national median of $75,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In Montana

Best Trade Schools in Montana (2026)

Explore More Trades in Montana

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)