For businesses and organizations that do business with vendors and sellers, procurement is a critical process.

Procurement, also known as purchasing, is the process of purchasing goods and services for a business at a reasonable price that meets the needs and budget of the business.

A procurement technician's responsibility is to ​solicit vendors​ for the best pricing without compromising quality according to objectives set by management.

General Duties

A procurement technician works in an office setting with several other technicians. As a procurement technician, an individual may be assigned to a certain commodity or service group.

For example, a procurement technician can be well versed in the ordering of janitorial supplies while the other technician can responsible for furniture and fixtures.

The technician typically reports to a procurement manager or supervisor.

​The procurement technician always analyzes cost and quality of goods and services and establishes vendor relationships​.

Skills

A procurement technician must have:

• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of computer applications is a must, because in many cases, the business or organization will have management information systems that provide reports and analysis of procurement activities.
• Strong math skills are needed to analyze cost and savings when ordering goods or services.
• The procurement technician must also have knowledge of establishing purchase orders and tracking invoices.

Salary

According to Payscale.com, the five popular industries for procurement technicians to work in are:

• information technology,
• engineering services,
• aerospace and defense,
• manufacturing and distribution
• and military and defense.

The average annual salary for an apprentice procurement technician or an individual with less than one year of experience is between $33,000 and $50,000, while those with 20 years of experience or more can make up to nearly $70,000.

Employment Outlook

The employment outlook for procurement technicians is fair, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Growth is projected to decline 4 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is lower than the 6 percent average growth expected of all professions.

Educational Requirements

According to the BLS, procurement technicians need a high school diploma. Most industries offer on-the-job training to their procurement staff. However, there are educational programs that a procurement technician can participate in that can translate into a higher salary.

The Procurement Association of America (PAA) and Certified Procurement Professional (CPP) are industry certifications based on work experience and testing.

Also, a bachelor's degree in logistics management, business or economics can be beneficial for an individual seeking employment at a mid-level management position as a procurement technician.