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Procurement clerk: pay, job outlook and how to get started

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$50,580median pay per year, or $24.32 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $38,040lowest 10% earn less
  2. $43,42025th percentile
  3. $50,580median
  4. $60,08075th percentile
  5. $68,620top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Procurement clerks, a BLS category whose reported job titles include procurement specialist[1], had a median pay of $50,580 a year in May 2025[2]. Employment is projected to fall 8.1% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-8.1%[3]
Openings per year
3,700[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do procurement clerks make?

The median pay for procurement clerks was $50,580 a year, or $24.32 an hour[2]. The median splits workers into two equal groups, with half paid above it and half below[2]. The average was $52,370 a year, or $25.18 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year, so procurement clerks sat just below it[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38,040, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $68,620[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][10] $38,040 $18.29
25th[4][10] $43,420 $20.88
50th (median)[2] $50,580 $24.32
75th[4][10] $60,080 $28.89
90th[4][10] $68,620 $32.99

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary, whether part time or full time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. About 55,810 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median pay at $62,880[13]. Massachusetts followed at $60,110, then New Hampshire at $58,830[13]. Tennessee had the lowest published median at $38,710[13].

California had the most jobs, at 7,080[14]. Tennessee came second with 3,900 and Texas third with 3,740[14]. So Tennessee has many jobs but the lowest median pay in the data[13][14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, York-Hanover, PA had the highest median at $64,770[15]. Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA followed at $63,630, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $62,310[15]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the most jobs at 3,110, ahead of Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at 2,810[16].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[13]$62,880220
Massachusetts$60,110520
New Hampshire$58,830190
Minnesota$58,100790
New Jersey$57,4602,370
California$56,1607,080
Colorado$55,210830
Utah$54,950540
Virginia$54,660930
Alaska$54,100230
New York$54,0802,680
Rhode Island$53,980210
Maryland$53,9601,230
Hawaii$53,890330
Pennsylvania$53,8002,360
Maine$53,070320
Alabama$52,940260
Washington$52,9101,750
Oregon$52,700510
North Dakota$51,63090
Nevada$51,530580
New Mexico$51,080460
Georgia$50,7301,800
Kentucky$50,610810
Connecticut$50,510710
North Carolina$50,3901,460
Wyoming$50,380120
Idaho$50,310470
Michigan$49,9801,220
Oklahoma$49,940830
Ohio$49,8801,350
South Carolina$49,810900
Louisiana$49,680760
Montana$49,560150
Wisconsin$49,4101,050
Indiana$49,2101,110
Iowa$48,870680
Missouri$48,820630
Florida$48,7102,890
West Virginia$48,050520
Arizona$47,9701,300
Vermont$47,96090
Nebraska$47,950910
Illinois$47,7701,950
Arkansas$47,760400
Kansas$47,730430
Texas$47,6603,740
Delaware$47,470140
South Dakota$46,690170
Mississippi$46,270860
Tennessee$38,7103,900

How to become a procurement clerk

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 48% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 33% said a bachelor's degree and 17% said some college courses[17]. Titles that workers report for this job include buyer, procurement officer, purchasing clerk and purchasing coordinator[1].

The BLS handbook text on training comes from a profile of financial clerks, which covers a wider group than procurement clerks[18]. It says workers in that group typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn mostly on the job[19][20]. It also notes that good organization and communication skills matter[21][22].

What procurement clerks do

Procurement clerks gather information and records to prepare purchase orders for materials and services[23]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

The handbook profile for the wider financial clerk group says these workers are found in many industries and usually work in offices[25]. It also says most work full time[26]. Those details describe the wider group, not procurement clerks alone[18].

Job outlook

Employment of procurement clerks is projected to fall 8.1% from 2025 to 2035[3]. That is a drop from about 56,900 to 52,300 jobs[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[27]. Projection counts include self-employed workers[3].

BLS lists automation as a factor. As procurement processes become more automated, fewer of these workers are needed[28].

Still, about 3,700 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.7% of workers leave the labor force and 5% move to a different occupation[29].

Is it a good fit?

The entry bar is low, with a high school diploma and no related experience needed[7]. Pay is close to the median for all occupations, and it varies by state[2][5][13]. The outlook is weaker than for all occupations, since employment is projected to fall while all occupations grow[3][27]. Openings still come from workers who leave the job or the labor force[6][29].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[30].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a procurement clerk make an hour?
For procurement clerks, the median was $24.32 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.18 an hour[2][8].
What education do you need to be a procurement clerk?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with no related work experience needed[7].
Is procurement clerk a growing job?
No. Employment is projected to fall 8.1% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3][27].
What is the highest paying state for procurement clerks?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $62,880 in May 2025[13]. Massachusetts was the highest among states at $60,110[13].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 43-3061.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Buyer, Procurement Assistant, Procurement Officer, Procurement Specialist, Purchasing Assistant, Purchasing Associate, Purchasing Clerk, Purchasing Coordinator. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Procurement Clerks in the US was $50,580 per year and $24.32 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Procurement Clerks is projected to decline 8.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 56,900 to 52,300 jobs (a change of -4,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Procurement Clerks: 10th percentile $38,040, 25th percentile $43,420, 75th percentile $60,080, 90th percentile $68,620. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 3,700 openings for Procurement Clerks are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Procurement Clerks: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Procurement Clerks was $52,370 per year and $25.18 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Procurement Clerks: 10th percentile $18.29, 25th percentile $20.88, 75th percentile $28.89, 90th percentile $32.99. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 55,810 people were employed as Procurement Clerks in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Procurement Clerks in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Procurement Clerks jobs: California 7,080; Tennessee 3,900; Texas 3,740; Florida 2,890; New York 2,680. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Procurement Clerks (areas with at least 100 jobs): York-Hanover, PA $64,770; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $63,630; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $62,310; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $61,700; Kennewick-Richland, WA $61,170; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $60,800; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $60,650; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $60,090. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Procurement Clerks jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,110 (median $58,050); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,810 (median $54,510); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,410 (median $49,320); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 1,000 (median $52,700); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 970 (median $48,360); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 910 (median $47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. O*NET 43-3061.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 48%, Bachelor's Degree 33%, Some College Courses 17% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  18. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Financial Clerks" covers Procurement Clerks together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET description of Procurement Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Procurement Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  28. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Procurement Clerks: Productivity change - share decreases as procurement processes are increasingly automated, reducing the need for these workers. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Procurement Clerks: 2.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.