Procurement Clerks

Procurement clerks handle the daily administrative tasks required to buy goods and services for their organizations. They spend much of their time working with computers to process information, gather details, and update records. These workers must communicate regularly with supervisors, coworkers, and outside suppliers to coordinate orders and maintain strong professional relationships. Day-to-day duties require identifying specific items or services needed, making decisions to solve purchasing problems, and performing general office tasks.

Succeeding in this role requires strong reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills. Clerks must be detail-oriented, dependable, and cooperative. They rely on knowledge of administrative procedures, customer service, basic economics, accounting, and the English language. Because their primary interest area is conventional, these professionals thrive in structured environments where they can organize data and follow set procedures to keep purchasing operations running smoothly.

To enter this career, candidates typically need a high school diploma. Most workers prepare for the job through some on-the-job training or by gaining prior work experience in an office setting. Students interested in this field often major in business operations support and assistant services.

While not always mandatory, obtaining professional credentials can help candidates demonstrate their expertise. Relevant certifications for this field include the Certified Professional Public Buyer credential, which is offered by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council. Another option is the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Level I, provided by the Federal Acquisition Institute. These credentials validate a clerk's understanding of purchasing standards and public procurement processes.

According to 2025 data, the median annual pay for procurement clerks is $50,580. The lowest-earning 10 percent of workers in this field make less than $38,040, while the highest-earning 10 percent earn more than $68,620.

There are 55,810 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to decline by -8.1 percent. Despite this decrease in total jobs, about 3,700 openings are still expected to become available each year to replace workers who leave the field.