How much does a rental clerk make?
a year · about $20 an hour
A typical rental clerk in the United States makes $41,300 a year, about $20 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They greet customers or answer calls, find out what someone needs, explain choices and rental rules, complete forms, and take payment. They also reserve items and inspect returns, then prepare them for the next customer.
Did you know? A rental clerk may hand out equipment to people taking part in a sports event or other recreation—not just rent things to one customer at a time.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $29,800 and $65,370How do you become one?
In the U.S., no formal education or related experience is typically required for this job. New clerks learn about the products, rental rules, forms, and checkout through short on-the-job training.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience, location, and employer—for example, a car dealer, rental shop, or repair business. Special equipment knowledge and harder duties may matter too; a useful license or certificate may help if an employer values it.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New Jersey ($48,900), lowest in West Virginia ($34,780).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $29,800 | $41,300 | $65,370 | about 401,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $48,900 | about 10,000 |
| Vermont | $48,430 | about 750 |
| Washington | $47,820 | about 15,000 |
| New Hampshire | $47,250 | about 2,000 |
| Maine | $46,870 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment. Excludes “Fast Food and Counter Workers” (35-3023), “Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks” (43-4081), “Order Clerks” (43-4151), and “Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks” (43-4181).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/41-2021.00
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/May/oes412021.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY