How much does an order clerk make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical order clerk in the United States makes $46,170 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They open orders from phone, email, or other systems, check that item details and customer information are complete, and enter them into a computer. They answer questions about prices and delivery dates, flag delays, and file orders or help resolve complaints.
Did you know? Order clerks may process more than products: orders can be for classified ads, repairs, installations, or even renting a facility.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $35,530 and $63,530How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school or earn a GED; some employers ask for college coursework or a certificate, and BLS lists some college without a degree as typical. Then learn the employer’s ordering system and procedures in 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., order clerks with more experience or extra education may earn more, and jobs with harder tasks or more responsibility can pay better. Pay also differs by employer or industry and by location.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Massachusetts ($55,040), lowest in Louisiana ($37,520).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,530 | $46,170 | $63,530 | about 75,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $55,040 | about 1,000 |
| Oregon | $50,260 | about 790 |
| Colorado | $49,530 | about 2,000 |
| Arizona | $48,590 | about 760 |
| Minnesota | $48,400 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance” (43-5032) who both dispatch and take orders for services.
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/43-4151.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes434151.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY