# Order Clerks

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/order-clerks
- SOC code: 43-4151.00
- Career family: Office and administrative support
- Median annual pay: $46,170 (10th percentile $35,530, 90th percentile $63,530)
- Projected growth: Decline, -17.5%
- Openings a year: 6,300
- Typical entry education: Some college
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CER)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 26 |
| Investigative (I) | 0 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 25 |
| Enterprising (E) | 59 |
| Conventional (C) | 100 |

## What you'd do

- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 94/100)
- Getting Information (importance 94/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 93/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 92/100)
- Processing Information (importance 88/100)
- Performing Administrative Activities (importance 86/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 85/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 84/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 83/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 80/100)

## 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

## 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

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

- [Business Operations Support and Assistant Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5204) (CIP 5204, 758 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Bellevue University-Nebraska](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bellevue-university-nebraska-206) | Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $67,452 | $83,581 | $19,499 |
| [Valdosta State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/valdosta-state-university-3105) | Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | $42,670 | $60,715 | $25,991 |

## Related careers

- [Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/shipping-receiving-and-inventory-clerks): $45,260 median pay
- [Postal Service Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/postal-service-clerks): $62,130 median pay
- [Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sales-representatives-of-services-except-advertising-insurance-financial-services-and): $69,990 median pay
- [Customer Service Representatives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/customer-service-representatives): $44,770 median pay
- [Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/production-planning-and-expediting-clerks): $59,650 median pay
- [Procurement Clerks](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/procurement-clerks): $50,580 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.