Procurement Clerks
Machines can already do 59% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 81%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Procurement Clerks in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 59% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 24% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 81% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 55,810 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $50,580 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 70% for contact with people.
- Also called: Buyer, Procurement Assistant, Procurement Officer, Procurement Specialist.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare purchase orders and send copies to suppliers and to departments originating requests | 14% | 68% to 94% | |
| Track the status of requisitions, contracts, and orders | 12% | 85% to 97% | |
| Contact suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, and other problems | 9% | 10% to 27% | |
| Review requisition orders to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications | 8% | 70% to 95% | |
| Respond to customer and supplier inquiries about order status, changes, or cancellations | 8% | 85% to 87% | |
| Compare prices, specifications, and delivery dates to determine the best bid among potential suppliers | 7% | 60% to 90% | |
| Prepare, maintain, and review purchasing files, reports and price lists | 7% | 83% to 97% | |
| Perform buying duties when necessary | 5% | 50% to 85% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills procurement clerks use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents73% of tasks by 2035 · US median $62,370
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $78,210
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $69,990
- Compensation and Benefits Managers62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $149,230
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Procurement Clerks?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of procurement clerks?
Machines can do 59% of the tasks of procurement clerks today and 81% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 43-3061.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Procurement Clerks: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/procurement-clerks/