Occupation · SOC 43-3061
Procurement Clerks
Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.
Median wage
$48,510
$36,810–$65,890
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
59,900
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
88 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessWritingMonitoringComplex Problem Solving
Knowledge areas
English LanguageAdministrativeCustomer and Personal ServiceEconomics and AccountingAdministration and Management
Technology & tools
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareEnterprise application integration softwareAccounting softwareInventory management softwareData base user interface and query software
Representative 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.Check shipments when they arrive to ensure that orders have been filled correctly and that goods meet specifications.Determine if inventory quantities are sufficient for needs, ordering more materials when necessary.Contact suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, and other problems.Prepare, maintain, and review purchasing files, reports and price lists.Review requisition orders to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications.Respond to customer and supplier inquiries about order status, changes, or cancellations.Monitor in-house inventory movement and complete inventory transfer forms for bookkeeping purposes.Compare suppliers' bills with bids and purchase orders to verify accuracy.Locate suppliers, using sources such as catalogs and the internet, and interview them to gather information about products to be ordered.Monitor contractor performance, recommending contract modifications when necessary.Prepare invitation-of-bid forms, and mail forms to supplier firms or distribute forms for public posting.Train and supervise subordinates and other staff.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Purchase order forms — complete and submit under direct supervision in a standard office procurement environment.Requisition status records — track and update daily using an ERP system with guidance from a senior clerk.Supplier copies of purchase orders — distribute accurately to vendors and originating departments following established procedures.Basic invoice amounts — calculate and verify against order totals using a spreadsheet template in an office setting.Inventory quantity reports — review and flag low-stock items for supervisor review using inventory management software.Bid comparison worksheets — compile price, specification, and delivery data from supplier quotes under close supervision.Organizational purchasing rules — locate and reference from provided documentation when responding to routine staff inquiries.Incoming bills — route to appropriate accounts by following a standard chart of accounts with supervisor guidance.Email correspondence with suppliers — draft straightforward order-related messages using approved office suite software templates.Procurement data entries — input order and contract information accurately into database systems under direct oversight.
developing
Requisition, contract, and order status — monitor and maintain using ERP software with minimal supervision in a busy procurement office.Purchase orders — prepare and issue independently, ensuring copies reach suppliers and requesting departments on schedule.Invoice charges and account allocations — calculate and forward to appropriate accounts routinely, resolving minor discrepancies without escalation.Supplier bids — compare prices, specifications, and delivery dates to recommend the best option to purchasing management.Inventory levels — assess sufficiency against current demand and initiate reorder requests when stock falls below threshold.Routine buying duties — perform independently when assigned, selecting vendors and placing orders within approved spending limits.Staff inquiries about purchasing regulations — address accurately and promptly by drawing on working knowledge of organizational and governmental rules.Bill approval and payment processing — execute for standard transactions using accounting software following department authorization procedures.Procurement records — maintain organized and current in document management software to support audits and reporting needs.Supplier relationships — manage day-to-day communications courteously and professionally via email and phone to ensure order accuracy.
proficient
Complex requisition and contract status issues — resolve autonomously by coordinating across departments and suppliers in a high-volume procurement environment.Non-routine purchasing tasks — execute independently, including sourcing new vendors and negotiating terms within delegated authority.Multi-line purchase orders for diverse commodity categories — prepare with full accuracy, applying knowledge of specifications, lead times, and compliance requirements.Cost analysis across multiple orders and accounts — perform and reconcile, identifying billing errors and recommending corrective accounting adjustments.Competitive bid evaluations — conduct thoroughly, weighing total cost of ownership, delivery reliability, and specification compliance to support final award decisions.Organizational and governmental procurement regulations — interpret and apply to complex purchase scenarios, advising staff and vendors on compliance obligations.Critical inventory shortfalls — identify proactively through trend monitoring and coordinate urgent replenishment to prevent operational disruptions.Accounts payable exceptions and disputed invoices — investigate and resolve by collaborating with suppliers and internal finance teams.Procurement reporting — generate and analyze using ERP and spreadsheet software to surface spending patterns and efficiency opportunities.Cross-functional coordination — lead procurement-related communication among requesting departments, finance, and suppliers to keep orders on track.
advanced
Departmental procurement procedures — design, document, and implement to standardize best practices across the entire administrative support team.Organizational purchasing policies — review, update, and communicate changes to staff and vendors, ensuring ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements.Procurement staff — mentor and train in ERP systems, regulatory rules, and supplier negotiation techniques to build team capability.Supplier performance standards — establish and monitor through structured evaluation processes, driving continuous improvement in cost, quality, and delivery.Enterprise-wide spending data — analyze using integrated ERP and analytics tools to identify consolidation opportunities and present recommendations to leadership.Procurement technology upgrades — lead evaluation, selection, and rollout of new ERP modules, inventory systems, or e-procurement tools across the organization.Annual purchasing budgets — contribute to planning and oversight by providing detailed cost forecasts and variance analyses to management.Vendor contract frameworks — oversee development of standard terms and conditions, ensuring alignment with legal, financial, and operational requirements.Cross-departmental procurement committees — chair or facilitate to align purchasing strategies with organizational goals and resolve escalated supply issues.Compliance audit preparation — direct collection, organization, and presentation of procurement documentation to internal auditors and regulatory bodies.
Also known as
279 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Contracting, Fighter (Air Force 64P1P)Procurement RepresentativeAircraft Loadmaster Craftsman, C-130J (Air Force 1A271C)In-Flight Refueling Specialist Craftsman, KC-10 (Air Force 1A071F)Acquisition Manager, Tanker (Air Force 63A4S)Storekeeper (Coast Guard SK)Mobility Force Aviator, C-130J Loadmaster (Air Force 1A1X2D)Acquisition Manager, Helicopter or EWO (Air Force 63A4V)Mobility Force Aviator, KC-135 Boom Operator (Air Force 1A1X2H)Weapons Administrator (Navy 003730)Contracting (Air Force 64P3)Aircraft Loadmaster Apprentice, C-130H (Air Force 1A231E)Aircraft Loadmaster Apprentice, C-146 (Air Force 1A231R)Acquisition Manager, Bomber (Air Force 63A4R)Aircraft Loadmaster Journeyman, EC-130J (Air Force 1A251H)Procurement AssistantIn-Flight Refueling Specialist Apprentice, KC-10 (Air Force 1A031F)Support Equipment Asset Manager (Navy 792A)Acquisition Manager, Bomber (Air Force 63A1R)Materiel Management Apprentice (Air Force 2S031)Acquisition Manager, Airlift (Air Force 63A4T)Materiel Management Superintendent (Air Force 2S091)Purchasing CoordinatorFleet Management And Analysis Helper (Air Force 2T317)Procurement CoordinatorLogistics Plans Journeyman (Air Force 2G051)Operations Management Apprentice (Air Force 3E631)Procurement SpecialistAmmunition Inventory Management (IM) Specialist (Navy 814A)Acquisition Manager, Special Operations (Air Force 63A1Y)Medical Logistics Specialist (Army 68J)Operations Management Journeyman (Air Force 3E651)Materiel Leader (Air Force 62S0)Ammunition Inventory Management Specialist (Marine Corps 6542)Purchasing ExpeditorContracting Professional (DAWAI) Certified (Navy 1490)Naval Plant Representative (Navy 6914)Aviation Supply Specialist (Marine Corps 6672)Aviation Maintenance Data Specialist (Marine Corps 6046)Procurement Agent