While you’re here, the latest CIPS Procurement & Supply Salary Survey is live, and we’d greatly appreciate your input. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and will help you benchmark your salary, skills, job level and qualifications. The survey closes at 23:59 GMT on Friday 28 February. Click here to complete the survey.
The CIPS Procurement & Supply Salary Guide, in partnership with Hays, is based on an annual survey of 5,000+ procurement and supply professionals and analyses trends in talent recruitment and retention, including trends by job level.
According to the 2024 guide, entry-level procurement professionals (those at “delivering” level) need a specific combination of skills to get ahead – and want leaders they can trust.
What is a “delivering” level professional?
“Delivering” level professionals are those focused on day-to-day activities and delivery. Those who manage their own workload, follow agreed procedures and have no direct responsibility for the work of others.
Here are some typical roles at “delivering” level:
- Assistant buyer
- Buyer
- Category officer
- Inventory planner
- Logistics analyst
- Procurement executive
- Procurement/purchasing officer
- Purchasing assistant
- Supply chain analyst
- Supply chain planner
If this sounds like you, then keep reading for the latest insights tailored to your job level.
Eight insights that matter for entry-level procurement professionals
1. You need soft skills and technical skills to get ahead
The skills ranked as most important for entry-level procurement professionals are communication, supplier relationship management, negotiation, and sourcing. The order varies by region – for example, negotiation ranks highest in Asia and the Middle East and North Africa. The lesson for entry-level procurement professionals? Yes, you’ll need to show a balance of skills to thrive and compete for the best roles.

2. Your chances of getting a bonus increase as you rise up the ladder
In five of the seven regions surveyed in 2024, between 42% and 59% of “delivering” level professionals report being eligible for a bonus.
And eligibility for bonuses increases with job level – with those at influencing level (the highest job level) more likely to receive a bonus than those at “delivering” level. Progressing up the ladder will help you increase your chance of a bonus.

3. People change jobs for salary, job security and progression opportunities
Many procurement and supply professionals are looking to move jobs. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the proportion of people looking to move is as high as 60%.
For those at “delivering” level, salary is one of the top reasons for changing jobs, followed by job security, and career progression opportunities. Earning potential and the desire for job stability are clearly front of mind for entry-level procurement professionals.

4. Entry-level salaries are consistent across all sectors
Our UK survey findings show that entry-level professionals can earn roughly the same in all sectors. With public-sector professionals at “delivering” level reporting an average salary of £34,076 and private-sector professionals, £34,730. This parity at “delivering” level, means entry-level professionals in the UK can move between sectors without seeing a massive shift in pay.

5. Entry-level professionals are in great demand
Many UK organisations looking to recruit procurement professionals are after those at “delivering” level. Forty-eight per cent of those with hiring plans in the UK expect to hire entry-level professionals, by comparison to the 3% that are after “Influencing” level professionals (those leading the profession).

6. Having MCIPS enables you to earn more
Entry-level procurement professionals in the UK with MCIPS earn roughly 20% more than those without MCIPS. The average salary for “delivering” level professionals with MCIPS is £41,210 and the average salary for those without is £33,808. Having MCIPS isn’t just a way to earn more; the designation can also help you develop and fine tune in-demand skills and behaviours, like communication and negotiation.

7. Procurement specialist is the best-paying role at your level
“Delivering” level roles in the UK pay on average between £27,000 and £41,000. To maximise your earning capacity, you could consider aiming for the role of procurement specialist, which is the highest paid position at your level in the UK, with an average salary of £41,069. The role of procurement executive is just behind it, with an average UK salary of £41,030, followed by supply chain analyst (£39,390).

8. Supply chain analysts have the highest “delivering” level bonus entitlement
As well as being one of the best paid roles at your level in the UK, the position of supply chain analyst offers the greatest chance for a bonus. Of those surveyed at “delivering” level in the UK, an impressive 73% report being eligible for a bonus, by comparison to just 16% of those working as an assistant procurement or contracts officer.

Use our salary calculator to benchmark your role better
For a practical sense of what this all means for your role, use our salary calculator to find out what you’re worth and to compare yourself to others in the profession. The salary calculator provides average salaries for procurement and supply roles globally and can be filtered by not only job level, but also region, gender and sector.