# Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks

> Authorize credit charges against customers' accounts. Investigate history and credit standing of individuals or business establishments applying for credit. May interview applicants to obtain personal and financial data, determine credit worthiness, process applications, and notify customers of acceptance or rejection of credit.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/credit-authorizers-checkers-and-clerks
- SOC code: 43-4041.00
- Career family: Office and administrative support
- Median annual pay: $50,080 (10th percentile $30,260, 90th percentile $72,700)
- Projected growth: Decline, -7.4%
- Openings a year: 900
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CES)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 0 |
| Investigative (I) | 15 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 40 |
| Enterprising (E) | 58 |
| Conventional (C) | 100 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 83/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 79/100)
- Processing Information (importance 78/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 77/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 73/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 71/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 69/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Writing, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Mathematics, Law and Government, Administrative, Economics and Accounting, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management, Sales and Marketing, Psychology

## Also called

Accounts Receivable Coordinator, Authorizer, Branch Processor, Call Out Operator, Charge Authorizer, Collector, Commercial Credit Advisor, Commercial Credit Analyst, Commercial Credit Officer, Commercial Credit Reviewer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Finance and Financial Management Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5208) (CIP 5208, 924 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $108,590 | $185,551 | $20,750 |
| [University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-notre-dame-south-bend-in-3005) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $141,543 | $160,313 | $19,500 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $126,622 | $152,744 | $13,088 |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $92,127 | $147,746 | $18,650 |
| [Wake Forest University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wake-forest-university-3149) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $116,242 | $145,996 | $19,500 |
| [American University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/american-university-69) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $76,317 | $134,332 | $20,633 |
| [Southern Methodist University SMU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-methodist-university-smu-2498) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $93,440 | $133,852 | $17,250 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $81,536 | $132,075 | $18,975 |

## Related careers

- [Credit Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/credit-analysts): $83,510 median pay
- [Loan Interviewers and Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loan-interviewers-and-clerks): $50,020 median pay
- [Loan Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loan-officers): $76,690 median pay
- [Bill and Account Collectors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bill-and-account-collectors): $47,030 median pay
- [Credit Counselors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/credit-counselors): $52,230 median pay
- [Customer Service Representatives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/customer-service-representatives): $44,770 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.