What You Need to Know About Order Clerk
Job Description & Duties 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.
Daily Life Of an Order Clerk
- Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.
- Collect payment for merchandise, record transactions, and send items such as checks or money orders for further processing.
- Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
- Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.
- Notify departments when supplies of specific items are low, or when orders would deplete available supplies.
- File copies of orders received, or post orders on records.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Order Clerk?
Below is a list of the skills most Order Clerks say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Order Analyst
- Advertising Space Clerk
- Auto Locator
- Contact Clerk
- Classified Ad Clerk
Are There Job Opportunities for Order Clerks?
There were about 179,000 jobs for Order Clerk in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Order Clerk. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 19,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Order Clerk are Utah, Nevada, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Maine, or New Mexico. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Order Clerks Salary
The salary for Order Clerks ranges between about $22,280 and $53,240 a year.

Order Clerks who work in Washington, Connecticut, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Order Clerks make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $30,900 |
Alaska | $33,140 |
Arizona | $32,560 |
Arkansas | $32,070 |
California | $38,160 |
Colorado | $37,550 |
Connecticut | $39,670 |
Delaware | $35,220 |
District of Columbia | $38,140 |
Florida | $33,710 |
Georgia | $34,410 |
Hawaii | $36,550 |
Idaho | $37,230 |
Illinois | $35,360 |
Iowa | $36,060 |
Kansas | $32,030 |
Kentucky | $29,040 |
Louisiana | $29,610 |
Maine | $30,990 |
Maryland | $34,770 |
Massachusetts | $39,380 |
Michigan | $32,770 |
Minnesota | $34,820 |
Mississippi | $32,150 |
Missouri | $34,510 |
Montana | $28,700 |
Nebraska | $31,090 |
Nevada | $36,100 |
New Hampshire | $36,210 |
New Jersey | $37,950 |
New Mexico | $32,740 |
New York | $34,490 |
North Carolina | $33,760 |
North Dakota | $36,900 |
Ohio | $33,560 |
Oklahoma | $31,070 |
Oregon | $35,980 |
Pennsylvania | $32,670 |
Rhode Island | $37,580 |
South Carolina | $34,910 |
South Dakota | $33,380 |
Tennessee | $33,540 |
Texas | $36,320 |
Utah | $31,520 |
Vermont | $37,560 |
Virginia | $34,800 |
Washington | $44,980 |
West Virginia | $30,030 |
Wisconsin | $35,840 |
Wyoming | $39,960 |
What Tools do Order Clerks Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Order Clerks:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Email software
- SAP
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
Becoming an Order Clerk
What education is needed to be an Order Clerk?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Order Clerk?

Where do Order Clerks Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Order Clerks employed by various industries.

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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