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What is a procurement analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Joel Stevenson
introduction image

A procurement analyst specializes in analyzing and improving purchasing processes within an organization. They identify cost-saving opportunities, negotiate with suppliers, and ensure on-time deliveries. Procurement analysts also conduct market research to stay up-to-date on industry trends and supplier performance. They use data analysis to develop reports and recommend strategies for improving procurement operations. Procurement analysts use communication skills to work with stakeholders across the organization to understand their needs and make informed purchasing decisions.

What general advice would you give to a procurement analyst?

Joel StevensonJoel Stevenson LinkedIn profile

Founding Director USC Columbia Technology Incubator, Associate Director Faber Entrepreneurship Center, Senior Lecturer Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management, University of South Carolina

I would not enter the job market at this time. I would apply to the Masters of Human Resources Program at U of SC. If I could not get into the program, I would take an HR job and apply again to the Master's Program. Reason...with a Master's in HR, the starting salary is right at $85,000 per year. Cost and amount of time it takes to get your Master's, $25,000, and 15 months.
ScoreProcurement AnalystUS Average
Salary
5.0

Avg. Salary $64,448

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.8

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 11.75%

Black or African American 8.18%

Hispanic or Latino 8.98%

Unknown 4.51%

White 66.41%

Gender

female 52.34%

male 47.66%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.2

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a procurement analyst?

Pros

  • Room for growth and advancement

  • Collaborative work environment

  • Diverse responsibilities and tasks

  • Opportunity to travel for supplier meetings and conferences

  • Possibility of working remotely or having flexible work arrangements

Cons

  • Potential for long hours or overtime

  • Data management can be time-consuming and challenging

  • Dealing with budget constraints and limitations

  • Risk of contract disputes or legal issues

  • Competing against other procurement analysts for promotions or recognition

Procurement analyst career paths

Key steps to become a procurement analyst

  1. Explore procurement analyst education requirements

    Most common procurement analyst degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.5 %

    Master's

    14.6 %

    Associate

    12.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific procurement analyst skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Purchase Orders8.70%
    Supplier Performance7.19%
    Customer Service6.16%
    Logistics3.94%
    Strategic Sourcing3.63%
  3. Complete relevant procurement analyst training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New procurement analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a procurement analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real procurement analyst resumes.
  4. Research procurement analyst duties and responsibilities

    • Manage SQL reporting database server that are used by procurement analyst and pull into SharePoint.
    • Lead a software implementation process and training program for company's ERP (Advantage/Sapphire) system.
    • Manage, negotiate and source MRO products and services, for building, machinery and grounds maintenance.
    • Perform reviews of select teams and programs to determine whether VBA and federal policies and guidelines are effectively implement and manage.
  5. Prepare your procurement analyst resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your procurement analyst resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a procurement analyst resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable procurement analyst resume templates

    Build a professional procurement analyst resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your procurement analyst resume.
    Procurement Analyst Resume
    Procurement Analyst Resume
    Procurement Analyst Resume
    Procurement Analyst Resume
    Procurement Analyst Resume
    Procurement Analyst Resume
    Procurement Analyst Resume
    Procurement Analyst Resume
    Procurement Analyst Resume
  6. Apply for procurement analyst jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a procurement analyst job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first procurement analyst job

Zippi

Are you a procurement analyst?

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Average procurement analyst salary

The average procurement analyst salary in the United States is $64,448 per year or $31 per hour. Procurement analyst salaries range between $45,000 and $91,000 per year.

Average procurement analyst salary
$64,448 Yearly
$30.98 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do procurement analysts rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

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Procurement analyst reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Learning more on the job and gaining new skills and experience


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2019
Pros

Negotiating with suppliers, influencing others, solving problems, making a positive difference to the company's bottom line.

Cons

Constant stress, lack of respect from other departments, lack of resources, poor advancement opportunities.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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