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Manufacturing
Boeing, General Motors, 3M
Procurement Clerks
Procurement clerks keep purchases moving by tracking requisitions, checking supplier quotes, matching invoices to orders, and following up on missing or delayed items. The work is distinct because it sits right between the office and the marketplace: one mistake in a price, quantity, or delivery date can delay production or create an expensive billing problem.
Also known as Purchasing ClerkProcurement AssistantPurchasing AssistantBuying ClerkPurchasing Coordinator
Median Salary
$48,510
Mean $50,430
U.S. Workforce
~60K
4.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-8.7%
61.9K to 56.6K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Procurement Clerks sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~60K workers, with a median annual pay of $48,510 and roughly 4.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 61.9 K in 2024 to 56.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Office Clerk and can progress toward Procurement Supervisor. High-value skills usually include ERP Purchasing Systems (SAP Ariba, Oracle Procurement), Microsoft Excel & Spreadsheet Tracking, and Accounts Payable & Invoice Reconciliation Software, paired with soft skills such as Reading Comprehension, Speaking, and Active Listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Review incoming bills and approve the ones that are accurate so vendors can be paid.
- Check whether the company has enough supplies on hand and place new orders before stock runs low.
- Keep up with buying rules and explain them to coworkers and vendors when questions come up.
- Answer questions from suppliers and internal staff about order status, changes, or cancellations.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Review incoming bills and approve the ones that are accurate so vendors can be paid.
02 Check whether the company has enough supplies on hand and place new orders before stock runs low.
03 Keep up with buying rules and explain them to coworkers and vendors when questions come up.
04 Answer questions from suppliers and internal staff about order status, changes, or cancellations.
05 Track purchase requests, contracts, and orders from start to finish so nothing falls through the cracks.
06 Compare bids, invoices, and purchase orders to catch pricing or billing errors before they become expensive.
Industries That Hire
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Healthcare
HCA Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic
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Retail and E-commerce
Walmart, Target, Amazon
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Government and Public Administration
U.S. Department of Defense, City of New York, State of California
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Construction and Engineering
Bechtel, Fluor, Jacobs
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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There are about 4.6K annual openings, so employers do keep hiring even as the occupation shrinks overall.
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The entry bar is fairly low: BLS lists a high school diploma, no prior work experience, and moderate-term on-the-job training.
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The work builds practical skills like Excel, order tracking, invoice checking, and vendor communication that transfer across industries.
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Most tasks are concrete and easy to verify, which can make the job feel more structured than many office roles.
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The median salary of $48,510 is solid for a position that does not always require a college degree.
Challenges
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Employment is projected to fall 8.7% by 2034, a decline of about 5.4K jobs, so long-term demand is getting weaker.
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A lot of the day is repetitive checking, matching, and follow-up, which can get monotonous and creates room for small errors.
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Parts of the job can be automated by purchasing software that handles order creation, invoice matching, and routine status updates.
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The role has a limited ceiling unless you move into buyer, coordinator, or supervisor work, so pay growth can plateau.
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You may spend a lot of time answering competing requests from vendors, supervisors, and internal teams, which can become stressful during shortages or delays.
Career Progression
Office Clerk
0-2 years
$32K-$38K
Handles basic filing, data entry, and simple order follow-up while learning office systems and purchasing rules.
Purchasing Assistant
2-4 years
$39K-$45K
Supports buyers by updating records, comparing quotes, and helping with routine vendor communication.
Procurement Clerk THIS ROLE
4-7 years
$46K-$56K
Manages purchase orders, invoice checks, supplier questions, and routine compliance paperwork.
Senior Procurement Clerk
7-10 years
$57K-$68K
Takes on more complex orders, handles exceptions, and often helps train newer staff.
Procurement Supervisor
10+ years
$69K-$85K
Oversees purchasing support work, sets priorities, and makes sure buying records and deadlines stay on track.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
This is the most common entry path, used by 48.23% of workers in this occupation.
Bachelor's degree
A sizable alternative route, held by 32.73% of workers, and often helpful for moving into larger purchasing teams or more complex operations.
Some college courses
This path shows up for 16.79% of workers and can work well when paired with strong office and spreadsheet experience.
Procurement or supply chain certificate
A certificate in purchasing, supply chain, or office administration can help you qualify for openings even though it does not appear in the distribution data.
Key Skills
Technical
ERP Purchasing Systems (SAP Ariba, Oracle Procurement) 84%
Microsoft Excel & Spreadsheet Tracking 82%
Accounts Payable & Invoice Reconciliation Software 79%
Purchase Order and Requisition Tracking Systems 76%
Document Management & Digital Filing Systems 73%
Soft Skills
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringWriting Job Outlook and Trends
+-8.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
4.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 61.9K to 56.6 K over the next decade, representing -8.7% growth. Around 4.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.