Procurement Clerks

SOC: 43-3061 O*NET: 43-3061.00
Median Salary
$48,510
per year
Job Growth
📉 -8.7%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
4.6
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2

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

What does a Procurement Clerks do?

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

How much can you earn?

Entry Level
$36,810
10th percentile
Early Career
$41,240
25th percentile
Median
$48,510
50th percentile
Experienced
$57,680
75th percentile
Top Earners
$65,890
90th percentile

National Salary Distribution

10th
$36,810
25th
$41,240
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$48,510
Mean: $50,430
75th
$57,680
90th
$65,890
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)

Key Insights

  • Salary range spans $29,080 from entry level to top earners
  • Middle 50% earn between $41,240 and $57,680
  • Salary spread is 33.9% around the median, showing moderate variation
  • Total national employment: 59,900 professionals

What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk

Current Employment

National Employment:61,900

Top Industries

Manufacturing14.4%
Wholesale Trade14.4%
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods8%

10-Year Outlook

Growth Rate:-8.7%
Annual Openings:4,600

Employment Projections

2024 (Current)61,900
Current
2034 (Projected)56,600
-8.7%
-5,400
Employment Change
-8.7%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection

Growth Category: Decline

Geographic Salary & Employment Data

Explore where Procurement Clerks professionals work across the United States

Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
7,290 jobs$53,7001.04x
Texas
4,270 jobs$46,8400.79x
Florida
3,280 jobs$45,3000.86x
Pennsylvania
3,000 jobs$49,9201.28x
New York
2,870 jobs$51,9100.77x
New Jersey
2,830 jobs$53,1301.72x
Illinois
2,350 jobs$46,3201.00x
Georgia
1,930 jobs$47,3801.02x
Washington
1,870 jobs$50,0101.36x
Ohio
1,780 jobs$46,1800.83x
North Carolina
1,470 jobs$47,8500.77x
Indiana
1,300 jobs$46,6101.05x
Michigan
1,160 jobs$46,4700.68x
Wisconsin
1,140 jobs$48,0601.00x
Arizona
1,140 jobs$46,8200.91x

Understanding the Data

Location Quotient (LQ):

  • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
  • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
  • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average

Data Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024

Key Growth Factors

  • Employment decline projected

What skills do you need?

Top 10 Most Important Skills

#1
Speaking
100%
#2
Reading Comprehension
94%
#3
Active Listening
86%
#4
Critical Thinking
80%
#5
Monitoring
74%
#6
Social Perceptiveness
66%
#7
Writing
60%
#8
Complex Problem Solving
54%
#9
Judgment and Decision Making
46%
#10
Active Learning
40%

Skills Overview

Speaking
advanced5.0
100%
Reading Comprehension
advanced4.7
94%
Active Listening
intermediate4.3
86%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.0
80%
Monitoring
intermediate3.7
74%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate3.3
66%
Writing
intermediate3.0
60%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced2.7
54%

Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.

Filter:
Sort by:

Speaking

advanced
Importance100%
skills
5.0/5.0

Reading Comprehension

advanced
Importance94%
abilities
4.7/5.0

Active Listening

intermediate
Importance86%
skills
4.3/5.0

Critical Thinking

intermediate
Importance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0

Monitoring

intermediate
Importance74%
skills
3.7/5.0

Social Perceptiveness

intermediate
Importance66%
skills
3.3/5.0

Writing

intermediate
Importance60%
skills
3.0/5.0

Complex Problem Solving

advanced
Importance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0

Judgment and Decision Making

basic
Importance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0

Active Learning

basic
Importance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0

Highly Transferable Skills

These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers100%
5 shared skills
Urologists100%
5 shared skills
Audiologists100%
5 shared skills
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators100%
5 shared skills
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists100%
5 shared skills
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates100%
5 shared skills

Skills by Career Stage

Entry Level

Must Have:
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
Learn on the Job:
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Writing
  • Complex Problem Solving

Mid Career

Expected:
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking

Senior Level

Mastery Required:
  • Speaking
  • Active Listening
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking

Skill Development Tips

  • Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
  • Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
  • Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
  • Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time

What technology will you use?

Technology & Digital Skills

Essential technology proficiencies for Procurement Clerks

Technology Intensity
High

Digital Literacy Requirements

This career requires advanced digital literacy

1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert

Key Digital Competencies:

Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥

Hot Technologies in Demand

These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field

Intuit QuickBooks

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Access

🔥 Hot Tech

Oracle Database

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft SharePoint

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Outlook

🔥 Hot Tech

Oracle PeopleSoft

🔥 Hot Tech

SAP software

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Office software

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Windows

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft PowerPoint

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Excel

🔥 Hot Tech

Microsoft Word

🔥 Hot Tech

Technology Stack

Technology Stack Overview

Key technologies used in this career

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

📚 Technology Learning Resources

Recommended Certifications

  • Vendor-specific software certifications
  • Industry-recognized technology credentials
  • Professional development courses

Online Learning Platforms

  • LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
  • Coursera - University-level programs
  • Udemy - Practical skills training

💡 Technology Skill Development Tips

  • Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
  • Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
  • Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
  • Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers

What's the work environment like?

🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT

💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?

Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:

  • Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
  • Can you meet moderate physical demands?
  • Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
  • Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?

What are the key tasks?

Tasks & Responsibilities

19
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
Documentation & Record-Keeping (4)General Responsibilities (12)Operations & Execution (2)Management & Supervision (1)
1

Prepare purchase orders and send copies to suppliers and to departments originating requests.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
100%
Documentation & Record-Keeping100% perform
2

Determine if inventory quantities are sufficient for needs, ordering more materials when necessary.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
98%
General Responsibilities97% perform
3

Respond to customer and supplier inquiries about order status, changes, or cancellations.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
96%
General Responsibilities94% perform
4

Perform buying duties when necessary.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
94%
Operations & Execution91% perform
5

Contact suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, and other problems.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
92%
General Responsibilities88% perform
6

Review requisition orders to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
90%
General Responsibilities85% perform
7

Prepare, maintain, and review purchasing files, reports and price lists.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
88%
Documentation & Record-Keeping82% perform
8

Compare prices, specifications, and delivery dates to determine the best bid among potential suppliers.

🔴
Daily
Importance:
86%
General Responsibilities79% perform
9

Track the status of requisitions, contracts, and orders.

🟡
Weekly
Importance:
84%
General Responsibilities76% perform
10

Calculate costs of orders, and charge or forward invoices to appropriate accounts.

🟡
Weekly
Importance:
82%
General Responsibilities73% perform

💡 Key Takeaways

  • Daily tasks focus primarily on documentation & record-keeping activities
  • 37% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
  • Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities

What career paths are available?

Career Pathways

0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase

Advancement Opportunities

Typical career progression paths from Procurement Clerks

💡 Career Planning Tips

  • Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
  • Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
  • Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
  • Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves

Is this career right for you?

Personality & Values Fit

Is This Career Right for You?

Procurement Clerks professionals typically have a CER Holland code and highly value relationships

CConventional
EEnterprising
RRealistic

Important Personality Traits

Work styles that contribute to success as a Procurement Clerks

Dependability

Critical

Dependability

Importance Level4.74

Attention to Detail

Critical

Attention to Detail

Importance Level4.57

Integrity

Critical

Integrity

Importance Level4.51

Cooperation

Very Important

Cooperation

Importance Level4.48

Initiative

Very Important

Initiative

Importance Level4.35

Adaptability/Flexibility

Very Important

Adaptability/Flexibility

Importance Level4.33

Complete Work Styles Profile

Dependability
4.7
Attention to Detail
4.6
Integrity
4.5
Cooperation
4.5
Initiative
4.3
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.3
Independence
4.3
Stress Tolerance
4.2
Concern for Others
4.2
Achievement/Effort
4.2

💡 Tips for Career Fit Success

  • While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
  • Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
  • Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
  • Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career

What education is required?

Education Level

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED

Preparation Level

Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed

Experience Needed

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful

📚 Education Requirement

Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.

Training:

Training of a few months to a year

💼 Experience Requirement

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful

Common pathways to gain experience:

  • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
  • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
  • Industry certifications helpful
2

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful

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