SOC 43-4151.00

    Order Clerks

    Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities.

    Median pay
    $46,170
    Growth
    -17.5%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    6,300
    Typical education
    Some college

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $35,530
    Median
    $46,170
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $63,530
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    75,200 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Order clerks process incoming requests for merchandise, materials, and services received via mail, phone, or electronic systems. The position offers a median annual pay of $46,170, with opportunities available across many industries.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What order clerks do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Order clerks manage the intake and processing of customer requests for goods, services, repairs, or rentals. On a daily basis, these workers gather information, enter details into computers, and document transactions. They are responsible for calculating prices, informing customers about shipping dates or delays, and preparing contracts. When issues arise, they handle customer complaints and solve problems to ensure satisfaction.

    This role is highly conventional, requiring a strong focus on detail, dependability, and cooperation. Clerks must use active listening and clear speaking skills to interact effectively with customers and colleagues. A solid understanding of customer service, administrative procedures, and computers is essential. Clerks must also organize and prioritize their tasks carefully while maintaining self-control and empathy during customer interactions.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, candidates typically need some college education, although the role generally requires a high school diploma as the basic preparation level. Many individuals secure these positions with a combination of a high school credential and some previous work experience or on-the-job training.

    Students interested in preparing for this field often pursue majors in business operations support and assistant services. This educational background helps build the administrative, communication, and computer skills necessary for managing order systems. Because the role relies heavily on practical office skills, employers frequently provide short-term training to familiarize new hires with specific inventory systems, company databases, and customer service protocols.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for order clerks is $46,170. This means half of the workers in this occupation earn more than this amount, and half earn less. The lowest 10 percent of earners make less than $35,530, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $63,530.

    There are 75,200 people employed in this field. However, opportunities are shrinking, with employment projected to decline by -17.5% from 2025 to 2035. Despite this decline, about 6,300 openings are still expected each year to replace workers who leave the occupation.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    26 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    0 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    25 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    59 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    100 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code CER. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    94
    Getting Information
    94
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    93
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    92
    Processing Information
    88
    Performing Administrative Activities
    86
    Documenting/Recording Information
    85
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    84
    Working with Computers
    83
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    80
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Service Orientation
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Monitoring
    • Writing
    • Active Learning
    • Coordination

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Production and Processing
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Education and Training
    • English Language
    • Administrative
    • Mathematics
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Transportation
    • Public Safety and Security

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Speech Recognition
    • Speech Clarity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Expression
    • Information Ordering
    • Category Flexibility

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cooperation
    • Integrity
    • Social Orientation
    • Cautiousness
    • Self-Control
    • Sincerity
    • Empathy
    • Optimism

    Also called

    Ad Taker (Advertising Taker) · Advertising Clerk (Ad Clerk) · Advertising Space Clerk (Ad Space Clerk) · Back Order Clerk · Blood Bank Credit Clerk · Blood Bank Order Control Clerk · Catalogue Clerk · Classified Ad Clerk (Classified Advertisement Clerk) · Classified Ad Taker (Classified Advertisement Taker) · Clerical Order Filler

    Career pathway

    From your interests to order clerks

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Order Clerks$46,170 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Bellevue University-Nebraska

      Bellevue, NE · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $67,452
      4 yrs after
      $83,581
      Median debt
      $19,499
    2. 2Valdosta State University logo
      Valdosta State University

      Valdosta, GA · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $42,670
      4 yrs after
      $60,715
      Median debt
      $25,991

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What order clerks may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation
    • General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
    • Receptionist

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about order clerks

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for order clerks?

    People in this occupation are sometimes called ad takers, catalogue clerks, classified ad clerks, back order clerks, or clerical order fillers.

    What are the main skills needed for this job?

    Success in this role requires strong active listening, speaking, and reading comprehension. Clerks also rely on service orientation, critical thinking, and coordination to process orders accurately.

    What is the projected job outlook for order clerks?

    Employment in this field is projected to decline by -17.5% between 2025 and 2035. Even with this decline, the field is expected to have 6,300 openings each year.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.