Life As a Procurement Clerk

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

Daily Life Of a Procurement Clerk

• Monitor in-house inventory movement and complete inventory transfer forms for bookkeeping purposes.
• Track the status of requisitions, contracts, and orders.
• Calculate costs of orders, and charge or forward invoices to appropriate accounts.
• Approve and pay bills.
• Train and supervise subordinates and other staff.
• Prepare invitation-of-bid forms, and mail forms to supplier firms or distribute forms for public posting.

What Every Procurement Clerk Should Know

These are the skills Procurement Clerks say are the most useful in their careers:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Purchasing Coordinator
• Purchasing Department Clerk
• Warehouse Clerk
• Purchasing Clerk
• Purchasing Associate

Is There Going to be Demand for Procurement Clerks?

There were about 74,900 jobs for Procurement Clerks in 2016 (in the United States).

Procurement Clerk jobs are decreasing by a rate of -4.3%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -3,200 jobs for Procurement Clerks by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 7,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Procurement Clerks are Texas, Nevada, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Pennsylvania, Illinois, or Missouri. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Procurement Clerk Average Salary

The average yearly salary of a Procurement Clerk ranges between $28,310 and $59,180. The median salary is $42,670.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
District of Columbia	$55,820
Alaska	$50,960
Maryland	$49,870
Washington	$49,570
Massachusetts	$47,870
Virginia	$46,570
Illinois	$46,520
Rhode Island	$46,480
Wyoming	$46,230
Colorado	$45,980
New Jersey	$45,600
California	$45,030
New York	$44,990
Connecticut	$44,790
North Dakota	$43,970
South Carolina	$43,660
Idaho	$43,340
Arizona	$43,340
Tennessee	$43,190
Texas	$43,180
Kentucky	$42,980
Hawaii	$42,660
New Mexico	$42,270
Vermont	$42,180
Pennsylvania	$41,970
Minnesota	$41,830
Utah	$41,830
Missouri	$41,730
Alabama	$41,690
Oklahoma	$41,590
Arkansas	$41,270
Ohio	$41,270
Oregon	$41,190
Florida	$40,880
Montana	$40,750
Iowa	$40,500
North Carolina	$40,400
Indiana	$40,280
Louisiana	$40,280
Mississippi	$40,090
Nevada	$39,780
Michigan	$39,700
New Hampshire	$39,500
Georgia	$39,420
Delaware	$39,330
Nebraska	$38,780
Kansas	$38,650
Maine	$38,430
Wisconsin	$38,140
South Dakota	$38,050
West Virginia	$36,660

Tools & Technologies Used by Procurement Clerks

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Procurement Clerks:

• Microsoft Access
• SAP Business Objects
• Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
• Data entry software
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Autotask
• Oracle PeopleSoft
• Intuit QuickBooks
• Microsoft SharePoint

How to Become a Procurement Clerk

What education or degrees do I need to become a Procurement Clerk?

How Long Does it Take to Become Procurement Clerk?

Where Procurement Clerks Work

Related Careers

Those interested in being a Procurement Clerk may also be interested in:

• Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks

Are you already one of the many Procurement Clerks in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Travel Agents
• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons