What is the best state to be a purchasing managers?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Arkansas is the best state for a purchasing managers: a BLS median of $156,450 is worth $173,179 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,893) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 86.9), an index of 124.9 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a purchasing managers at $175,720, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #12 of 50 on real pay (index 107.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

Where does a purchasing managers salary go least far?

Hawaii ranks last of 50 states for a purchasing managers: a $113,490 BLS median is worth only $96,766 after tax and cost of living (index 69.8). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Purchasing Managers

Best States to Be a Purchasing Managers

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a purchasing managers salary goes furthest in Arkansas — a $156,450 BLS median worth $173,179 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 124.9).

Which US states are best for a purchasing managers after cost of living and tax?

For a purchasing managers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Arkansas #1: a $156,450 BLS median becomes $173,179 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 124.9). Hawaii ranks last ($96,766, index 69.8). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 50 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Arkansas ranks #1 of 50 states for a purchasing managers. Index 100 = the average state; 124.9 means pay goes 24.9% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

124.9

Purchasing Managers — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	Arkansas	$156,450	$5,893	86.9	$173,179	124.9
2	Kansas	$159,850	$8,120	90.1	$168,462	121.5
3	Colorado	$171,250	$6,875	103.1	$159,507	115.1
4	West Virginia	$147,220	$6,161	89.5	$157,613	113.7
5	New Hampshire	$162,900	—	104.2	$156,387	112.8
6	Virginia	$166,230	$8,759	101.1	$155,752	112.4
7	Massachusetts	$170,750	$8,318	105.8	$153,590	110.8
8	Georgia	$155,360	$7,727	96.3	$153,316	110.6
9	New Jersey	$174,520	$8,927	108.8	$152,192	109.8
10	Washington	$162,730	—	107.0	$152,066	109.7
11	Tennessee	$137,060	—	91.9	$149,189	107.6
12	District of Columbia	$175,720	$12,061	109.9	$148,915	107.4
13	Maryland	$161,470	$7,566	105.0	$146,632	105.8
14	Illinois	$153,370	$7,451	100.0	$145,981	105.3
15	New York	$166,300	$8,930	107.9	$145,820	105.2
16	South Dakota	$128,670	—	88.6	$145,249	104.8
17	North Dakota	$130,110	$1,299	89.0	$144,798	104.4
18	Michigan	$142,120	$5,794	96.2	$141,686	102.2
19	Ohio	$134,580	$3,160	92.8	$141,656	102.2
20	North Carolina	$138,710	$5,353	94.3	$141,379	102.0
21	Pennsylvania	$141,790	$4,353	97.6	$140,857	101.6
22	New Mexico	$134,790	$5,328	92.2	$140,396	101.3
23	Alabama	$130,710	$6,271	88.8	$140,098	101.1
24	Missouri	$132,100	$5,328	90.8	$139,591	100.7
25	Texas	$134,670	—	97.1	$138,754	100.1
26	Minnesota	$144,810	$8,598	98.6	$138,116	99.6
27	Idaho	$136,970	$6,680	95.5	$136,438	98.4
28	Mississippi	$122,940	$4,604	87.0	$136,092	98.2
29	Arizona	$138,940	$2,999	100.7	$135,027	97.4
30	California	$159,830	$10,742	110.7	$134,653	97.1
31	South Carolina	$131,720	$6,559	93.7	$133,506	96.3
32	Iowa	$121,580	$4,580	87.8	$133,315	96.2
33	Wyoming	$123,380	—	92.7	$133,109	96.0
34	Kentucky	$124,350	$4,843	90.2	$132,551	95.6
35	Maine	$135,970	$7,773	97.0	$132,094	95.3
36	Indiana	$126,880	$3,776	93.3	$131,903	95.1
37	Vermont	$135,720	$6,648	98.0	$131,763	95.0
38	Nebraska	$124,010	$5,352	90.1	$131,691	95.0
39	Oklahoma	$119,310	$5,130	87.8	$129,982	93.8
40	Florida	$133,410	—	103.4	$129,006	93.1
41	Connecticut	$138,680	$6,171	103.6	$127,892	92.3
42	Wisconsin	$124,990	$5,472	94.1	$127,018	91.6
43	Rhode Island	$134,560	$4,833	102.3	$126,836	91.5
44	Montana	$123,480	$6,147	94.6	$123,972	89.4
45	Oregon	$137,190	$11,308	103.4	$121,789	87.9
46	Utah	$125,940	$5,730	98.9	$121,591	87.7
47	Louisiana	$109,630	$2,914	88.2	$120,984	87.3
48	Nevada	$120,270	—	100.0	$120,295	86.8
49	Alaska	$114,650	—	102.4	$112,008	80.8
50	Hawaii	$113,490	$7,095	110.0	$96,766	69.8

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 50 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Arkansas, a $156,450 salary is worth about $172,940 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $6,102 (≈ top marginal 3.90% (upper bound)) · take-home $150,348 · BEA cost of living 86.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $176,608, a $3,668 gain over Arkansas.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$176,608	88.6
2	Arkansas	$172,940	86.9
3	Louisiana	$172,046	88.2
4	Mississippi	$172,008	87.0
5	Iowa	$171,492	87.8
6	North Dakota	$171,471	89.0
7	Tennessee	$170,295	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$169,642	87.8
9	Wyoming	$168,787	92.7
10	Alabama	$167,330	88.8
11	Kentucky	$166,586	90.2
12	West Virginia	$166,384	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Purchasing Managers — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a purchasing managers?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Arkansas is the best state for a purchasing managers: a BLS median of $156,450 is worth $173,179 after the 2025 state income tax ($5,893) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 86.9), an index of 124.9 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a purchasing managers at $175,720, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #12 of 50 on real pay (index 107.4). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a purchasing managers salary go least far?: Hawaii ranks last of 50 states for a purchasing managers: a $113,490 BLS median is worth only $96,766 after tax and cost of living (index 69.8). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a purchasing managers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.