Home / Federal careers / GS-1105
Purchasing
Positions involving purchasing supplies, services, and equipment using simplified acquisition procedures.
What GS-1105 pays
2025 base rates, before locality. Most federal employees add a locality adjustment on top.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,603 | $36,752 | $37,901 | $39,050 | $40,199 | $41,348 | $42,497 | $43,646 | $44,786 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,229 | $80,752 | $83,275 | $85,798 | $88,321 | $90,844 | $93,367 | $95,890 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
| GS-15 | $125,133 | $129,304 | $133,475 | $137,646 | $141,817 | $145,988 | $150,159 | $154,330 | $158,501 | $162,672 |
Base pay only. Locality pay adds 15 to 40 percent or more depending on where the job sits. Source: OPM 2025 General Schedule.
Qualification requirements
OPM's standard for GS-1105, as written.
Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Clerical and Administrative Support Positions
Individual Occupational Requirements: There are no Individual Occupational Requirements for this series.
Experience and Education Requirements by Grade Level (Group Standard):
| Grade | General Experience | Specialized Experience | Education |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | None | None | None |
| GS-2 | 3 months | None | High school diploma or equivalent |
| GS-3 | 6 months | None | 1 year above high school |
| GS-4 | 1 year | None | 2 years above high school |
| GS-5 | None | 1 year at GS-4 level | 4 years above high school |
| GS-6+ | None | 1 year at next lower grade | Generally not applicable |
General Experience: Progressively responsible clerical, office, or other work that indicates ability to acquire the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position to be filled.
Specialized Experience: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.
Education: One year of full-time academic study equals 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or approximately 36 weeks at 20+ classroom hours per week.
Combining Education and Experience: For grades GS-3 through GS-5, applicants may substitute education for experience. Express both as percentages; combined must equal at least 100%.
What this means if you served
- Write the duties, not the billet. OPM credits military experience on the work performed, and does not use rank or pay to judge specialized experience.
- Put the training and certifications you earned in service on the page. They count here.
- Claim your veterans preference on the application. It is not applied for you.
- No positive education requirement here, so qualifying experience can stand in for the education.
How to qualify for GS-1105
1Review Qualification Requirements
Read the OPM qualification standards above to understand the education and experience requirements for your target grade level.
2Find Your Grade Level
Grade follows the scope and complexity of the work you can document against the announcement, not the rank you held. OPM does not use military rank or pay when it evaluates specialized experience. Roughly: GS-5 entry, GS-7/9 junior, GS-11/12 journey, GS-13 and up senior.
3Gather Documentation
Collect your DD-214, SF-50 (if applicable), transcripts, certifications, and any training records that demonstrate your qualifications.
4Build Your Federal Resume
Two pages. USAJOBS has enforced that limit since 27 September 2025 and will not accept a longer resume from a Title 5 agency posting, so the space has to answer every qualification requirement. Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact details, and the accomplishments with numbers on them.
5Apply on USAJOBS
Search for open positions, carefully answer all assessment questions, and submit your application before the closing date.
Military jobs that map to this series
Logistics Specialist
Purchasing. LSs regularly process purchase requests and manage vendor relationships. Direct experience with federal purchasing systems (Navy ERP, SAP).
Skills that carry over: Purchase requests, Vendor sourcing, Price analysis, Purchase order management, Federal acquisition basics.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Supply Chain Specialist
Purchasing. 3043s regularly process purchase requests and manage vendor relationships. Government Purchase Card (GPC) experience is directly relevant to federal purchasing positions.
Skills that carry over: Purchase orders, Vendor sourcing, Price analysis, GPC management, Procurement documentation.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Operational Contract Support (OCS) Specialist
GS-1105 Purchasing covers simplified-acquisition and purchase-card buying, a strong entry for junior 3044s building toward the 1102 ladder.
Skills that carry over: Simplified acquisition, Purchase card management, Vendor sourcing, Open-market buying.
Usually opens at: GS-5, GS-7, GS-9.
Your record can qualify you even when your code is not on this list. The crosswalk is a starting point, not the gate.
Typical duties
- Process purchase requests
- Solicit quotes from vendors
- Evaluate vendor responses
- Issue purchase orders
- Track deliveries
- Resolve procurement issues
- Maintain vendor files
- Ensure compliance
- Manage purchase card
- Document transactions
Key competencies
Procurement Methods
Knowledge of simplified acquisition and purchasing procedures.
Vendor Management
Ability to identify, evaluate, and work with vendors.
Regulations
Understanding of federal purchasing regulations and policies.
Price Analysis
Skill in evaluating pricing and determining reasonableness.
Order Processing
Ability to process purchase orders accurately.
Problem Solving
Skill in resolving procurement and delivery issues.
Documentation
Ability to maintain procurement records.
Communication
Skill in communicating with vendors and customers.
Words the announcement will use
Use the ones your record actually supports. A rater is matching your experience against the specialized experience statement, and a keyword with nothing behind it does not survive that.
Questions about GS-1105
What is a federal Purchasing Agent?
GS-1105 Purchasing Agents buy supplies, services, and equipment using simplified acquisition procedures (typically under $250,000). They solicit quotes, evaluate vendors, issue purchase orders, track deliveries, and manage government purchase cards at virtually every federal installation and office.
How much does a federal Purchasing Agent make?
GS-1105 follows a one-grade interval typically ranging from GS-4 ($30,795) to GS-9 ($52,205-$67,865). Most positions are GS-5 to GS-7 ($34,454-$55,486). Senior purchasing agents reach GS-8/9. Add locality pay of 15-40%.
What are the requirements for GS-1105 positions?
At GS-4, you need 1 year of general clerical or business experience OR 2 years of education above high school. Higher grades require specialized purchasing experience. Knowledge of simplified acquisition procedures, vendor management, and procurement regulations is essential.
Can military experience substitute for education in GS-1105?
Yes. Military purchasing, supply, or procurement experience directly qualifies. If you processed purchase requests, managed government purchase cards, or coordinated with vendors, that experience translates. Your understanding of government buying is exactly what agencies need.
What is the career progression for Purchasing Agents?
Entry at GS-4/5 with progression to GS-7/8/9. Many transition to Contract Specialist (GS-1102) for higher-grade opportunities. Purchasing is an excellent entry point to the acquisition career field. FAC-C certification opens additional doors.
How do I apply for GS-1105 jobs on USAJOBS?
Search USAJOBS for 'Purchasing Agent' or 'Procurement Technician.' Every federal agency hires purchasers. Emphasize your buying experience, vendor relations, and any purchase card management. Veterans with supply or purchasing MOSs have directly applicable experience.
Ready to apply for GS-1105?
A rater matches your record against the announcement's specialized experience statement, inside two pages. BMR writes that shape from your own experience: competency headers, real scope, hours per week, and the supervisor detail the rater checks.