Correspondence Clerks earn a median of $46,800 per year ($22.50/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 5.6% through 2035, with about 500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 43-4021
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Correspondence Clerk in four numbers
- Median pay
- $46,800a year, or $22.50/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $33KTop 10% $65K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -5.6%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−5.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −5.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5004,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20254.8K
- Projected 20354.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 4.8K Projected 2035 4.5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school42.9%
- Some college17.4%
- Associate's28.1%
- Bachelor's11.6%
Highest education held by correspondence clerks Segment Value High school 42.9% Some college 17.4% Associate's 28.1% Bachelor's 11.6%
Also advertised as: Chargeback Specialist, Claims Correspondence Clerk, Correspondence Clerk, Correspondence Coordinator, Correspondence Representative (Correspondence Rep), Correspondent.
Pay
How much do Correspondence Clerks make?
Every correspondence clerk in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$46,800
Middle half earn $38,610 to $56,090
- 10th
- $33,300
- 25th
- $38,610
- 75th
- $56,090
- 90th
- $64,510
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $33,300 |
| 25th | $38,610 |
| Median | $46,800 |
| 75th | $56,090 |
| 90th | $64,510 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $46,800
- Median hourly wage
- $22.50/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $48,090
- People employed
- 4,290
Versus all US occupations
At $46,800, Correspondence Clerks earn 8% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,180 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230, this is 5% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $64,510 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,300, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 15% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Connecticut pays the most at $61,310, and still leads at $59,174 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Correspondence Clerks the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Connecticut | $61,310 | $59,174 | 70 |
| 2Oregon | $61,160 | $59,171 | 110 |
| 3California | $53,640 | $48,447 | 240 |
| 4Idaho | $51,010 | $53,417 | 40 |
| 5Nebraska | $49,800 | $55,270 | 60 |
| 6New Hampshire | $49,730 | $47,742 | 120 |
| 7Indiana | $49,710 | $53,263 | 70 |
| 8Ohio | $49,700 | $53,571 | 40 |
| 9New York | $49,360 | $45,737 | 540 |
| 10Maine | $49,180 | $50,675 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Correspondence Clerk a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -5.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Correspondence Clerks | −5.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Correspondence Clerks to change -5.6% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 300 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 500 openings are projected each year, 10.4% of the 4,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of information clerks is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of information clerks varies by occupation (see table).
The increased use of online ordering and self-service systems will limit demand for some of these workers, such as order clerks and human resources assistants.
Getting in
How to become a Correspondence Clerk
Information clerks typically need a high school diploma and learn their skills on the job.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as correspondence clerks.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)42.9%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree28.1%
- Some College Courses17.4%
- Bachelor's Degree11.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 42.9% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 28.1% |
| Some College Courses | 17.4% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 11.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Correspondence Clerk do?
Compose letters or electronic correspondence in reply to requests for merchandise, damage claims, credit and other information, delinquent accounts, incorrect billings, or unsatisfactory services. Duties may include gathering data to formulate reply and preparing correspondence.
Information clerks do routine clerical tasks such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Maintain files and control records to show correspondence activities.
- Route correspondence to other departments for reply.
- Read incoming correspondence to ascertain nature of writers' concerns and to determine disposition of correspondence.
- Gather records pertinent to specific problems, review them for completeness and accuracy, and attach records to correspondence as necessary.
- Prepare documents and correspondence, such as damage claims, credit and billing inquiries, invoices, and service complaints.
- Compile data from records to prepare periodic reports.
- Compose letters in reply to correspondence concerning such items as requests for merchandise, damage claims, credit information requests, delinquent accounts, incorrect billing, or unsatisfactory service.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most information clerks work full time. However, part-time work is common for hotel clerks and file clerks.
Clerks in lodging and transportation establishments that are open around the clock may work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Writing4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.5
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Monitoring2.9
- Mathematics2.8
- Active Learning2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Mathematics | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Service Orientation3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Persuasion2.8
- Negotiation2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
| Negotiation | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Correspondence Clerk?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Correspondence Clerk |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 7 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional6.9
- Enterprising3.4
- Social2.7
- Investigative2.5
- Artistic1.6
- Realistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Correspondence Clerk
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
- Office and Administrative Support
- Office and Administrative Support
Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
$47,540median a year
Most earn $33K to $66K
−6.0%High school - Office and Administrative Support
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant
$55,570median a year
Most earn $37K to $92K
−5.2%High school - Office and Administrative Support
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$50,670median a year
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Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant
$76,590median a year
Most earn $51K to $110K
0.0%High school
More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with correspondence clerks highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Correspondence Clerk$46,800
- Teller$43,030
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Correspondence Clerk | $46,800 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Correspondence Clerk appears on
Questions
Correspondence Clerk: frequently asked questions
How much do Correspondence Clerks make?
Correspondence Clerks earn a median of $46,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.50/hr. The middle half earn between $38,610 and $56,090. The top 10% earn $64,510 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Correspondence Clerk?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Correspondence Clerks. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 42.9% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Correspondence Clerk a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 5.6% over 2025–2035, a loss of 300 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Correspondence Clerk do?
Information clerks do routine clerical tasks such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers. A core O*NET task: maintain files and control records to show correspondence activities. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Correspondence Clerks the most?
The highest state medians for Correspondence Clerks are Connecticut ($61,310), Oregon ($61,160), California ($53,640) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Correspondence Clerk?
O*NET scores Correspondence Clerks highest on the Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISFJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.