Financial Clerks

How to become a Procurement Clerk

Official title: Procurement Clerks

Also called: Buyer, Procurement Assistant, Procurement Officer, Procurement Specialist, Purchasing Assistant, Purchasing Associate, Purchasing Clerk, Purchasing Coordinator, Purchasing Specialist, Warehouse Clerk

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

Main tasks

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

How to become one

A high school diploma is typically required for most financial clerk positions. These workers typically learn their job duties through on-the-job training.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $50,580 a year The middle half earn $43,420 to $60,080.
About 56,900 people work in this job now, and about 52,300 are projected by 2035. (-8.1%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Procurement Clerk?

A high school diploma is typically required for most financial clerk positions. These workers typically learn their job duties through on-the-job training.

How much does a Procurement Clerk earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $50,580 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $43,420 to $60,080.

Is a Procurement Clerk a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 8% by 2035, from about 56,900 to about 52,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Procurement Clerk?

Not always. 46% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Procurement Clerk?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.