Order Clerks earn a median of $46,170 per year ($22.20/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 17.5% through 2035, with about 6,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Some college, no degree.
- SOC 43-4151
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Order Clerk in four numbers
- Median pay
- $46,170a year, or $22.20/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $36KTop 10% $64K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -17.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−17.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −17.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6,30078,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202578.9K
- Projected 203565.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 78.9K Projected 2035 65.1K - Typical education
- Some collegeneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school63%
- Certificate24.2%
- Some college0.7%
- Bachelor's12.1%
Highest education held by order clerks Segment Value High school 63% Certificate 24.2% Some college 0.7% Bachelor's 12.1%
Also advertised as: Hub Associate, Materials Specialist, Order Analyst, Order Clerk, Order Entry Administrator (Order Entry Admin), Order Entry Representative (Order Entry Rep).
Pay
How much do Order Clerks make?
Every order clerk in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$46,170
Middle half earn $39,660 to $54,310
- 10th
- $35,530
- 25th
- $39,660
- 75th
- $54,310
- 90th
- $63,530
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $35,530 |
| 25th | $39,660 |
| Median | $46,170 |
| 75th | $54,310 |
| 90th | $63,530 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $46,170
- Median hourly wage
- $22.20/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $48,220
- People employed
- 75,200
Versus all US occupations
At $46,170, Order Clerks earn 9% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,810 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230, this is 6% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $63,530 or more while the bottom 10% earn $35,530, a gap of 1.8×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 13% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Massachusetts posts the highest raw median ($55,040), but once local prices are taken into account Alabama leads at $54,986 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Order 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $55,040 | $52,044 | 1,350 |
| 2Oregon | $50,260 | $48,626 | 790 |
| 3Vermont | $49,950 | $50,991 | N/A |
| 4Colorado | $49,530 | $48,063 | 1,970 |
| 5Rhode Island | $49,410 | $48,309 | 170 |
| 6District of Columbia | $49,150 | $44,722 | 170 |
| 7Alabama | $48,840 | $54,986 | 80 |
| 8Arizona | $48,590 | $48,263 | 760 |
| 9New Hampshire | $48,540 | $46,599 | 390 |
| 10Minnesota | $48,400 | $49,077 | 1,150 |
Job outlook
Is Order Clerk a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -17.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Order Clerks | −17.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Order Clerks to change -17.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 13,800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 6,300 openings are projected each year, 8.0% of the 78,900 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 an Order Clerk
Information clerks typically need a high school diploma and learn their skills on the job.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Some college, no degree
- 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 order clerks.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)63%
- Post-Secondary Certificate24.2%
- Bachelor's Degree12.1%
- Some College Courses0.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 63% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 24.2% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 12.1% |
| Some College Courses | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Order Clerk do?
Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Generally receives orders via mail, phone, fax, or other electronic means. Duties include informing customers of receipt, prices, shipping dates, and delays; preparing contracts; and handling complaints.
Information clerks do routine clerical tasks such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Receive and respond to customer complaints.
- Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.
- Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.
- Inform customers by mail or telephone of order information, such as unit prices, shipping dates, and any anticipated delays.
- Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
- Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
- Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
- File copies of orders received, or post orders on records.
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 dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
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
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
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
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.5
- Writing3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Mathematics3.0
- Active Learning3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Persuasion3.0
- Negotiation2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Time Management2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- 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
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Enterprise system management software
- Inventory management 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 an Order Clerk?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Order Clerk |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 1 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| 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.
- Conventional7.0
- Enterprising4.5
- Realistic2.6
- Social2.5
- Investigative1.0
- Artistic1.0
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 Order Clerk
O*NET related occupations
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More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with order 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
- Order Clerk$46,170
- 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 |
| Order Clerk | $46,170 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Order Clerk appears on
Questions
Order Clerk: frequently asked questions
How much do Order Clerks make?
Order Clerks earn a median of $46,170 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 9% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.20/hr. The middle half earn between $39,660 and $54,310. The top 10% earn $63,530 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Order Clerk?
Not necessarily. BLS lists "some college, no degree" as the typical entry-level education for Order 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, 63.0% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Order Clerk a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 17.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 13,800 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 6,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Order Clerk do?
Information clerks do routine clerical tasks such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers. A core O*NET task: receive and respond to customer complaints. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Order Clerks the most?
The highest state medians for Order Clerks are Massachusetts ($55,040), Oregon ($50,260), Vermont ($49,950) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Alabama moves to the top at $54,986.
What personality type suits an Order Clerk?
O*NET scores Order 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, 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.