How to become a procurement clerk

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

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..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.

What procurement clerks do

• Track the status of requisitions, contracts, and orders.
• 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.
• Determine if inventory quantities are sufficient for needs, ordering more materials when necessary.
• Respond to customer and supplier inquiries about order status, changes, or cancellations.
• Perform buying duties when necessary.

Skills that matter most

• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Monitoring
• Active Learning
• Mathematics

Is procurement clerk a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 1% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• District of Columbia $62,880
• Massachusetts $60,110
• New Hampshire $58,830
• Minnesota $58,100
• New Jersey $57,460

Procurement Clerks salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.