Where can procurement professionals find the highest salaries in Australia and NZ?

PASA examines procurement salary data and other insights from the Robert Walters 2019 Salary Survey for Australia and New Zealand.

Although there’s more to job satisfaction than a salary, wages in procurement are an excellent indicator of the value in which the profession is held. Robert Walters’ 2019 report predicts there will be long-awaited wage growth in the Australian economy due to record company profits and rising costs of living. Procurement professionals will also be needed for major infrastructure projects under way in every state. Rising commodity prices are driving a resurgence in the mining and resources sector, resulting in jobs growth. Finally, procurement professionals highly skilled in risk and compliance can expect to be in demand as fallout from the Royal Commission into misconduct in Banking continues. 

New South Wales

Job growth in NSW is expected to be stimulated in 2019 by:

• the sheer number of infrastructure projects currently underway
• multiple organisations rolling out ERP projects
• a major fleet upgrade for the Australian military

The report authors expect to see the market to skew away from permanency and towards contract roles for procurement professionals, while there will be an increase in demand for ICT procurement professionals and those with defence experience.

NSW Salaries per annum 2019 (Permanent):

• CPO $325 – 450k
• Procurement Director $240 – $335k
• Procurement Manager $180 – $245k
• Category Manager $130 – $180k
• Contracts Manager $130 – $180k
• Procurement Analyst $90 – $110k
• Procurement Officer $70 – $90k

Queensland

Strong demand is expected in Queensland for procurement professionals with IT, construction project, and logistics and material buying experience. The mining sector recovery will drive demand for residential and FIFO professionals across the state.

QLD Salaries per annum 2019 (Permanent):

• CPO $250 – 350k
• Procurement Manager $140 – $230k
• Category Manager $130 – $190k
• Contracts Manager $150 – $200k
• Procurement Analyst $95 – $120k
• Procurement/Purchasing Officer $60 – $95k
• ICT Procurement Specialist $130 – $170k
• Procurement Consultant $95 – $150k

Western Australia

Resources projects across the state will require an influx of white-collar professionals, including procurement professionals with experience in the mining sector.

WA Salaries per annum 2019 (Permanent):

• CPO $185 – 240k
• Procurement Manager $110 – $190k
• Category Manager $110 – $190k
• Contracts and Procurement Administrator $75 – $90k
• Procurement/Purchasing Officer $75 – $90k

Victoria

The report notes that although demand for talent is growing in Victoria, this has not translated into widespread salary rises. Contract and project-based roles are expected to grow, while the digital transformation wave will require professionals with agile methodology experience.  

VIC Salary data: not provided.

Auckland

Procurement salaries are expected to increase slightly in 2019, with higher-than-average increases for professionals with IT and commercial experience. Auckland’s small pool of procurement talent means top performers will be incentivised to stay in their roles.

Auckland Salaries per annum 2019 (Permanent) in NZD ($):

• Procurement Director $160 – $250k
• Procurement Manager $120 – $180k
• Strategic Sourcing Manager $120 – $160k
• Contracts/Relationship Manager $110 – $140k
• Procurement Specialist $90 – $130k

Wellington

Highly-skilled procurement specialists will be in demand in 2019, especially those with knowledge of IT and construction as well as commercial managers who can influence senior stakeholders within their organisation.

 Wellington Salaries per annum 2019 (Permanent) in NZD ($):

• CPO $150 – $230k
• Commercial Manager $120 – $200k
• Procurement Manager $110 – $180k
• Category Manager $90 – $160k
• Senior Procurement Specialist $90 – $145
• Procurement Specialist $70 – $100k
• Contracts Manager $75 – $130k
• Procurement Coordinator $45 – $65k