Procurement Clerks

Career Overview

Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.

Also Known As

• Buyer
• Procurement Specialist
• Purchasing Clerk
• Purchasing Specialist

Alternate Job Titles

• Buyer
• Departmental Buyer
• Expeditor
• Film Replacement Orderer
• Procurement Agent
• Procurement Analyst
• Procurement Assistant
• Procurement Clerk
• Procurement Coordinator
• Procurement Officer
• Procurement Representative
• Procurement Specialist
• Procurement Technician
• Purchaser
• Purchasing Administrative Assistant

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

• Track the status of requisitions, contracts, and orders.
• Perform buying duties when necessary.
• Prepare purchase orders and send copies to suppliers and to departments originating requests.
• Calculate costs of orders, and charge or forward invoices to appropriate accounts.
• Compare prices, specifications, and delivery dates to determine the best bid among potential suppliers.
• Approve and pay bills.
• Maintain knowledge of all organizational and governmental rules affecting purchases, and provide information about these rules to organization staff members and to vendors.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

• English Language
• Administrative
• Customer and Personal Service

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Speaking
3. Active Listening
4. Critical Thinking
5. Writing
6. Monitoring
7. Social Perceptiveness

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Near Vision
• Written Comprehension
• Information Ordering
• Written Expression
• Speech Clarity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Problem Sensitivity
• Inductive Reasoning

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

• Dependability
• Attention to Detail
• Integrity
• Cautiousness
• Achievement Orientation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

• Relationships
• Independence
• Support
• Achievement
• Working Conditions

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

• Intuit QuickBooks
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Word
• Oracle Database

Tools & Equipment

• Copy machines
• Document scanners
• Electronic cash registers
• Laser facsimile machines
• Multiline telephone systems
• Personal computers

Work Environment

• E-Mail
• Telephone Conversations
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
• Contact With Others
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$36,810
Median	$48,510
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$65,890

Workers Employed Nationally: 59,900

Related Careers

If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:

---

---

Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.