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Counter and Retail Clerks


Overview

Counter and Retail Clerks

Introduction

Counter and retail clerks work as intermediaries between the general public and businesses that provide goods and services. They take orders and receive payments for such services as automobile rentals, sports equipment rentals, and laundry and dry cleaning. They often assist customers with their purchasing or rental decisions, especially when sales personnel are not available. These workers might also prepare billing statements, keep records of receipts and sales, and balance money in their cash registers. There are approximately 4...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$27,290

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Employment Prospects

Good

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Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma


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Experience

Any prior experience in retail sales, as a cashier, or working wi
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Skills

Business Management
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Personality Traits

Conventional
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Earnings

The median hourly wage for counter and rental clerks was $13.12 per hour in May 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Working year-round at 40 hours per week, a clerk earning this wage would make approximately $27,290 annually. Ten percent of counter and rental clerks earned less than $19,130, and 10 percent earned more than $49,270 annually. Wages among clerks vary for a numbe...

Work Environment

Although a 40-hour workweek is common, many stores operate on a 44- to 48-hour workweek. Most stores are open on Saturday and many on Sunday. Most stores are also open one or more weekday evenings, so a clerk's working hours might vary from week to week and include evening and weekend shifts. Many counter and retail clerks work overtime during Christmas and other rush seasons. Part-time clerks ...

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for counter and rental clerks will grow by 4 percent from 2018 to 2028, or about as fast as the average for all careers. Employment opportunities for clerks, particularly those who are entry level, are plentiful in large metropolitan areas, where their services are in great demand. Businesses that focus on customer service will always want t...