Salary
Report 2026
The Largest Buyer Salary Report 2026 in DACH
Since 2013, we have analyzed salaries in the purchasing and supply chain management sector annually. In 2026, 2,011 employees from the DACH region participated in the survey. The report shows salary differences by industry, region, and company size and highlights factors such as position, experience, education, AI, and digitalization. Get all the relevant insights for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Use the results of the buyer salary report with over 100,000 individual values to make the most of your career, position yourself better, and be more successful in negotiations.
Salary report 2026: The most important results for Germany
- Education: Purchasing managers with a doctorate earn an average of 142,000 euros gross per year, almost twice as much as purchasing managers with vocational training (72,000 euros).
- FH diploma before Bachelor: Graduates with an FH diploma earn an average of 103,000 euros in purchasing, while Bachelor graduates earn 92,000 euros.
- Age: Salary in purchasing increases from 62,000 euros (26 to 30 years old) to 101,000 euros (41 to 45 years old) and then flattens out.
- Gender Pay Gap: Women in purchasing earn an average of 72,000 euros, while men earn 99,000 euros. The gap in purchasing management is also 15,000 euros.
- Overtime: Buyers with more than six overtime hours per week earn an average of 127,000 euros, with one to two overtime hours 76,000 euros.
- In the full report: Results on 13 pay factors, including work experience, further education, ESG goals, and fairness of remuneration.
Our exclusive partner in Switzerland this year is once again procure.ch.
procure.ch: News on Purchasing & Procurement – To the procure.ch newsletter
The largest purchasing salary report in 2026 in DACH – Part report Switzerland
Since 2013, we have been analyzing salaries in the purchasing and supply chain management sector annually. In 2026, 2,011 employees from the DACH region participated. There are 426 fully completed questionnaires from Switzerland. The Partial report Switzerland shows salary differences by industry, region and company size and highlights factors such as position, experience, education, AI and digitalisation.
Use the results of the buyer salary report to make the most of your career, position yourself better, and negotiate more successfully. procure.ch is once again the exclusive partner of the study this year.
- Exclusive Insights: Well-founded salary benchmarks specifically for Swiss procurement
- Relevant benchmarks: Current data on salaries, role profiles, industries, career paths, and further training opportunities.
- Valuable guidance: Supports specialists and managers with career orientation and negotiation.
Exclusive Partner:
The biggest
Buyer Salary Report
2026
- 0:45 Minutes
Selected results of the salary report 2026
How much do buyers earn, depending on their educational background?
In the workplace, salary increases significantly with educational qualifications. According to the Kloepfel Salary Report 2026, the average gross annual salary ranges from 72,000 euros with vocational training to 142,000 euros with a doctorate.
| Conclusion | Ø Gross annual salary |
|---|---|
| Vocational training | 72.000 € |
| Bachelor | 92.000 € |
| FH diploma | 103.000 € |
| Master | 114.000 € |
| Promotion | 142.000 € |
Purchasers with a FH diploma earn more than bachelor's graduates. A likely reason is their longer work experience.
The extent to which further training affects salary additionally is shown by the Full report.
At what age does the salary in purchasing no longer increase?
The average salary in purchasing rises from 62,000 euros for those aged 26 to 30 to 101,000 euros for those aged 41 to 45. From mid-40s onwards, the salary curve flattens out. Those who are purchasing managers at this age often have reached their target position.
| Age | Ø Gross annual salary |
|---|---|
| 26 to 30 years | 62.000 € |
| 41 to 45 years | 101.000 € |
How salary develops with professional experience and when it stagnates is shown in the Full report.
Do women earn less than men in shopping?
Yes. According to the Kloepfel salary report for 2026, women earn an average of 72,000 euros gross per year in purchasing jobs, while men earn 99,000 euros. The salary gap also exists in similar positions:
| Position | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Procurement | 70.000 € | 81.000 € |
| Purchasing Department | 101.000 € | 116.000 € |
Which other factors determine the remuneration in purchasing is shown in the Full report.
Do buyers who work long hours earn more?
Yes. Buyers who work more than six overtime hours per week earn an average of 127,000 euros gross per year. For those working one to two hours per week, it’s 76,000 euros. The main reason is the position: Two-thirds of the overachievers are purchasing managers or CPOs.
| Overtime per week | Ø Gross annual salary |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 hours | 76.000 € |
| more than 6 hours | 127.000 € |
Whether overtime is compensated and how this affects salary is shown in the Full report.
Webinar recording
"Salary Coaching for Buyers"
More input?
If you the Live Webinar If you missed it, you can now watch the entire recording comfortably here. In this webinar, we covered important topics on salary strategies and negotiations for buyers, which will provide you with valuable insights for your professional development.
Learn more about current salary structures, proven tips for successful negotiations, and how to strategically advance your career in procurement and supply chain management.
Salary coaching for buyers
- 16:29 minutes