Procurement Specialist Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
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The following article discusses the career path of Procurement Specialist. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Procurement Specialists.

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Job Duties

Procurement specialists find services and goods for the business at the best possible price, thereby ensuring that the organization can minimize costs. These services and goods are wide ranging, including inventory, office supplies, raw materials, real estate, and so on. They must make sure that they operate within budgetary constrains and keep profitability at the top.

Procurement specialists can work at various different levels, from entry level to senior. At entry level positions, they may deal with purchase orders as they relate to operations, manufacturing and project management. As they grow in seniority, they may start to assess how different suppliers perform, how quickly they respond to queries and demands, and so on. Eventually, they will hold responsibility for developing new relations and, where appropriate, terminate them.

In many cases, a procurement specialist is a supportive individual. They help analyze and prepare contracts, so they must work closely together with outside vendors, finance departments, accountants, and senior management. Typically, they work during standard business hours, although some overtime may be required.

Other job duties of a procurement specialist are:

  • To negotiate new prices with suppliers, focusing on factors such as timeliness and quality
  • To liaise with external suppliers, expediting their goods’ delivery
  • To analyze and write invoices, requisitions, supply orders, and supply requests
  • To monitor and track supply needs and inventory so that orders for new items are placed in a timely manner

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 520,400 purchasing managers, buyers, and purchasing agents in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals are:

  • Manufacturing: 23%
  • Wholesale trade: 15%
  • Management of companies and enterprises: 10%
  • Retail trade: 9%
  • Federal government: 8%

How to Become

Generally speaking, a procurement specialist holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or related field. Those who have a master’s degree, and particularly the master in business administration (MBA) are in the highest demand. They may also have to complete certification programs, such as the CPP (Certified Procurement Professional), CPPM (Certified Professional Purchasing Manager), and/or CPPC (Certified Purchasing Consultant).

Education Requirements

A procurement specialist is almost always expected to hold a bachelor’s degree, although the size of the organization does play a role in this. The major of the degree should be in supply management, finance, or business or related field. Work experience is very important, as it demonstrates that someone has gained on the job training.

A procurement specialist may also obtain various forms of certification, although this is generally not a legal requirement. Appropriate certifications include:

    • Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) offered by the American Purchasing Society.
    • Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) offered by the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS)
    • Senior Professional in Supply Chain Management (SPSM) offered by the Next Level Purchasing Association
    • Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) offered by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC)
    • Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) offered by the UPPCC

All certifications are valid for a limited time only and must therefore be renewed through further training and examinations. Organizations such as the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) and the National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP) offer training for these courses.

A procurement specialist will typically have at least five years’ working experience in a relevant area. Usually, these professionals grow into their role through internal promotions. Others are brought in externally, in which case education weighs more heavily.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective procurement specialist have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent decision making skills
  • Very good mathematical skills
  • Negotiating skills
  • Computer skills, particularly in relation to inventory control software
  • Management and leadership skills to motivate employees across the board
  • Financial skills, particularly focusing on budget management
  • Strong communication skills, both verbal and written

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Procurement Specialist was $51,075. This number is estimated from over 577,524 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $26.60 and monthly of $4,256.

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$14,000

$125,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Procurement Specialist salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Wisconsin had the largest quoted salary of $83,641 while Idaho had the smallest quoted salary of $28,281.

AlaskaIllinoisNew Mexico
AlabamaIndianaNew York
ArkansasKansasOhio
ArizonaKentuckyOklahoma
CaliforniaLouisianaOregon
ColoradoMassachusettsPennsylvania
ConnecticutMarylandSouth Carolina
DCMichiganTennessee
DelawareMinnesotaTexas
FloridaMissouriVirginia
GeorgiaNorth CarolinaWashington
HawaiiNebraskaWisconsin
IdahoNew JerseyWest Virginia
Alaska – $47,904Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Workplace Alaska.

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$2,000

$6,400

Salary Distribution
Alabama – $51,892Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accountemps.

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$14,000

$111,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas – $46,356Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like department of finance & administration.

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$14,000

$100,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona – $50,841Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Honeywell, Aerospace, Datamatics Global Services Ltd, and Cor-Tech LLC.

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$7.25

$58.25

Salary Distribution
California – $49,939Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Finezi, Volt, Software Specialists, and BOLT Staffing Service, Inc..

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$7.25

$59.65

Salary Distribution
Colorado – $40,972Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Colorado, Aerotek, Robert Half Technology, and GARFIELD COUNTY.

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$7.50

$42.10

Salary Distribution
Connecticut – $66,758Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like UCONN Health Center, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Huxley Associates.

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$14,000

$157,000

Salary Distribution
DC – $68,983Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like USAJOBS, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, and Department of Homeland Security.

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$15,000

$160,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware – $56,887Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Superior Group.

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$19,000

$113,000

Salary Distribution
Florida – $53,533Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Miami Dade County, NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement, Broward College, and Hired by Matrix, Inc..

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$14,000

$131,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia – $32,838Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, CHASE Professionals, The Judge Group, and City of Atlanta.

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$14,000

$89,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii – $54,260Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and City and County of Honolulu, HI.

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$25,000

$95,000

Salary Distribution
Idaho – $28,281Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like GVH Distribution, Experis, and Manpower.

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$7.25

$30.20

Salary Distribution
Illinois – $60,825Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement, Michael Page, City of Chicago, and JobGiraffe.

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$16,000

$133,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana – $54,591Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Accountemps, and Adecco.

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$14,000

$123,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas – $41,683Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like isgf, AVISPA LLC, Cor-Tech LLC, and Informatic Technologies Inc.

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$8.90

$40.00

Salary Distribution
Kentucky – $59,709Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Strategic Communications, US Tech Solutions, and University of Kentucky.

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$14,000

$163,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana – $62,116Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bramwith Consulting, State of Louisiana, HKA Enterprises, and Topp Knotch Personnel.

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$21,000

$124,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts – $51,916Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Michael Page, Massachusetts Municipal Association, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and BioProcure, Inc..

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$9.85

$52.55

Salary Distribution
Maryland – $55,524Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like WSSC, Aerotek, State of Maryland, and NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement.

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$16,000

$118,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan – $37,862Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aerotek, Impact Business Group, The Bartech Group, and Softpath System LLC in Holland, MI.

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$7.25

$39.65

Salary Distribution
Minnesota – $38,630Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like City Of Minneapolis and CorTech, LLC.

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$7.35

$39.00

Salary Distribution
Missouri – $48,165Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like EducationPlus Resources Inc..

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$22,000

$84,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina – $52,077Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Candidate Source Organization, Advanced Resources, VRG Components, Inc., and Informatic Technologies Inc.

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$17,000

$105,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska – $34,080Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Hemphill Staffing Solutions.

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$7.25

$40.00

Salary Distribution
New Jersey – $47,865Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bramwith Consulting, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Robert Half Management Resources, and Advantage Resourcing Americas, Inc.

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$7.30

$52.85

Salary Distribution
New Mexico – $56,235Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Los Alamos National Laboratory and New Mexico State Personnel Office.

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$15,000

$123,000

Salary Distribution
New York – $59,194Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Access Staffing LLC, Research Foundation of the City University of New York, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS SERV., and YMS Associates.

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$14,000

$139,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio – $33,561Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Ohio State University, CorTech, LLC, Infiniti Systems Group, and Ohio University.

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$7.25

$32.10

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma – $47,916Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Oklahoma.

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$14,000

$104,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon – $59,004Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Oregon State University, State of Oregon, Ampcus Inc, and CorTech, LLC.

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$20,000

$117,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania – $43,200Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Select Source International, Laurus Professional Staffing, Randstad, and Aerotek.

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$7.25

$51.65

Salary Distribution
South Carolina – $45,084Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aiken Technical College.

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$15,000

$91,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee – $53,175Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Randstad, Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County, AppleOne, and AccuForce.

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$15,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution
Texas – $56,336Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bramwith Consulting, Accenture, Schlumberger, and Weatherford.

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$14,000

$137,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia – $56,651Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, Arlington County, and Piper Enterprise Solutions.

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$17,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution
Washington – $45,420Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Community Transit, State of Washington, Washington State Dept. of Transportation, and Washington State Government.

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$14,000

$100,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin – $83,641Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Wisconsin–Madison, Robert Half, Remedy Intelligent Staffing, and Request Technology.

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$20,000

$191,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia – $45,988Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Augmentation.

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$14,000

$102,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Procurement Specialist. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary
University of Kentucky Procurement SpecialistKentucky$151,863
Request Technology Procurement SpecialistGeorgia$126,480
Nigel Frank International Procurement SpecialistIllinois$112,771
Request Technology – Jacqueline White Procurement SpecialistIllinois$106,781
Material and Contract Services, Inc. Procurement SpecialistNew York$105,558
Access Staffing LLC Procurement SpecialistNew York$96,987
Department of Homeland Security Procurement SpecialistVirginia$90,264
Transportation Security Administration Procurement SpecialistVirginia$86,429
Bramwith Consulting Procurement SpecialistNew Jersey$83,373
Miami Dade County Procurement SpecialistFlorida$83,334
UCONN Health Center Procurement SpecialistConnecticut$81,037
NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement Procurement SpecialistFlorida$79,381
Arlington County Procurement SpecialistVirginia$78,187
City Of Minneapolis Procurement SpecialistMinnesota$77,604
Michael Page Procurement SpecialistIllinois$76,229

Learn More

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Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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