Career comparison
Procurement Clerk vs. Purchasing Agent
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Purchasing agents earn more at the median ($77,710 vs. $50,580), while procurement clerks usually get to work faster (A few months on the job of training). Procurement clerks process purchase orders and keep track of supplies and orders. Purchasing agents buy the materials, products and services organizations need at the best value.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Procurement Clerk | Purchasing Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $50,580 ($24.32/hr) | $77,710 ($37.36/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $38,040 – $68,620 | $48,380 – $128,870 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -8.1% (a projected decline) | +6.0% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 3,700 | 47,200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | A few months on the job | 4 years or experience |
| Key credential | Purchasing fundamentals course | Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) |
| Work setting | Clerks work in offices for companies, hospitals, schools and government.. | Purchasing agents work in offices at manufacturers, retailers, hospitals, government agencies and other organizations. |
What each job does
Procurement Clerk
- Prepare purchase orders
- Request quotes
- Track deliveries
- Match invoices to orders
- Maintain supplier records
Purchasing Agent
- Identify and evaluate suppliers
- Request quotes and proposals
- Negotiate prices, terms and contracts
- Issue purchase orders
- Track orders and expedite deliveries
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, and indoor work. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose procurement clerk if…
- I’m organized
- I like tracking details
- I follow up well
Choose purchasing agent if…
- I enjoy negotiating deals
- I like comparing options and costs
- I’m organized with details
Still torn? Take the Procurement Clerk fit quiz and the Purchasing Agent fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, procurement clerk or purchasing agent?
Purchasing Agents earn more at the median: $77,710 versus $50,580 for procurement clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Procurement Clerks typically train faster (A few months on the job) than purchasing agents (4 years or experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects purchasing agents to grow +6.0% from 2025–35, compared with -8.1% for procurement clerks.