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Procurement Clerks
Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.
Other titles employers use
Buyer · Procurement Assistant · Procurement Officer · Procurement Specialist · Purchasing Assistant · Purchasing Associate · Purchasing Clerk · Purchasing Coordinator
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, persuading and practical work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Subjects to know
- English Language
- Administrative
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.0 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.1 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 1.8 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 48%
- A four-year degree 33%
- A certificate or some college 17%
- A two-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Accounting software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Document management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 6,500
- Job openings each year
- 590
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- −4.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6,500 | 590 | −4.4% |
| Texas | 5,650 | 540 | 3.3% |
| Illinois | 4,230 | 380 | −7.0% |
| Florida | 4,140 | 390 | 2.2% |
| New Jersey | 4,010 | 360 | −4.8% |
| Tennessee | 3,350 | 320 | 5.3% |
| New York | 3,120 | 20 | 6.8% |
| Missouri | 2,860 | 260 | −6.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,230 | 200 | −6.7% |
| Ohio | 1,810 | 160 | −8.1% |
| Georgia | 1,750 | 160 | −3.3% |
| Utah | 1,500 | 150 | 5.6% |
| Wisconsin | 1,450 | 130 | −1.4% |
| North Carolina | 1,370 | 130 | −2.1% |
| South Carolina | 1,360 | 130 | −2.2% |
| Washington | 1,330 | 130 | 3.9% |
| Arizona | 1,120 | 110 | — |
| Maryland | 1,060 | 100 | −3.6% |
| Kentucky | 930 | 90 | −4.1% |
| Louisiana | 930 | 90 | −4.1% |
| Michigan | 860 | 80 | −8.5% |
| Indiana | 770 | 70 | −4.9% |
| Mississippi | 740 | 70 | −3.9% |
| Oklahoma | 720 | 70 | −6.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 720 | 70 | 1.4% |
| Nebraska | 630 | 60 | −1.6% |
| West Virginia | 630 | 60 | −8.7% |
| Arkansas | 610 | 60 | −3.2% |
| Minnesota | 610 | 60 | −6.2% |
| Oregon | 530 | 50 | −3.6% |
| Nevada | 520 | 50 | — |
| Iowa | 510 | 50 | 2.0% |
| Kansas | 500 | 50 | −5.7% |
| Connecticut | 450 | 40 | −4.3% |
| Alabama | 340 | 30 | −8.1% |
| New Mexico | 320 | 30 | −3.0% |
| Maine | 300 | 30 | −6.3% |
| New Hampshire | 270 | 30 | — |
| Alaska | 260 | 30 | 4.0% |
| Montana | 260 | 30 | 4.0% |
| Rhode Island | 260 | 20 | −10.3% |
| District of Columbia | 240 | 20 | −7.7% |
| Massachusetts | 200 | 20 | −4.8% |
| South Dakota | 200 | 20 | 5.3% |
| Idaho | 160 | 20 | — |
| Delaware | 140 | 10 | −12.5% |
| Guam | 110 | 10 | — |
| Wyoming | 100 | 10 | −9.1% |
| Vermont | 70 | 10 | −12.5% |
| North Dakota | 60 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Valdosta State University
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college FLThe University of Tampa
- Degrees each year
- 16
- Admit rate
- 41%
- Annual cost after aid
- $32,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college MONorthwest Missouri State University
- Degrees each year
- 2
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open collegeCompare every college offering business operations support and assistant services