Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Counter and rental clerks are part of a sizable national workforce, with 408,000 people employed across the country. The role offers a national median annual salary of $38,540 and a projected employment growth rate of 3.2%. With about 46,000 annual openings, this occupation presents ongoing opportunities for both new entrants to the workforce and career changers. The career is accessible, as the typical education requirement is no formal educational credential, making it a potential fit for people who want to start earning without completing a degree. Success in this path is supported by strong customer service, interpersonal, speaking and listening, and basic mathematics skills, as well as comfort with computers and information technology. Physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, and project management skills can also contribute to performance. This combination of accessibility, ongoing openings, and a defined set of core skills makes counter and rental clerk a practical option to consider when exploring customer-focused careers.
Counter and rental clerks earn a national median annual salary of $38,540. Pay varies across locations, and some states and metro areas show higher median salaries. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington reports a median salary of $47,820, New York $46,270, Colorado $46,240, California $45,010, and Massachusetts $44,070. Major metro areas also show differences: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a median of $48,570, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $48,040, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $48,010, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,740, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $45,510. These figures suggest that location can significantly influence earnings for this occupation. Individuals who are mobile or open to relocation may want to weigh salary levels in different states and metro areas when planning their career path as counter and rental clerks.
Counter and rental clerks have a national employment base of 408,000, indicating broad use of this role across the economy. Projected employment growth of 3.2% points to an expanding field rather than a shrinking one. In addition, the occupation is expected to generate about 46,000 annual openings. This combination of an existing large workforce and steady annual openings suggests frequent opportunities for people entering the field or seeking new positions within it. The consistent 3.2% growth rate also appears across several highlighted states and metro areas, indicating similar projected growth in multiple regions. For job seekers, this means the occupation can offer a blend of current employment scale and forward-looking stability. When evaluating this path, candidates can factor in both the substantial number of existing jobs and the expectation of continued hiring activity over time.
Location plays a notable role in opportunity for counter and rental clerks. Among states, California has the highest employment level listed, with 67,770 workers and a median salary of $45,010, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York, with 18,320 employed and a median salary of $46,270, and Massachusetts, with 8,220 employed and a median salary of $44,070, also show strong opportunity scores of 65.78 and 65.87. Colorado and Washington combine mid-range employment (13,900 and 14,600) with higher median salaries of $46,240 and $47,820, and opportunity scores of 56.97 and 56.29. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with the highest opportunity scores (77.42 and 77.27) and median salaries above $48,000. Other metros such as San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also show relatively strong salaries and opportunity scores, giving mobile workers multiple regions to consider.
The typical education requirement for counter and rental clerks is no formal educational credential, which makes this career accessible to people who have not pursued postsecondary education. Even without a formal credential requirement, success in the role is closely tied to specific skills. Customer service and interpersonal skills are central, as the work involves direct interaction with others. Speaking and listening abilities support clear communication, while writing and reading skills help with handling information accurately. Mathematics skills are also important for basic numerical tasks. Comfort with computers and information technology adds value, reflecting the need to work with digital systems. Mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, and physical strength and stamina can further support day-to-day performance. Project management skills help clerks organize tasks and time. For someone considering this occupation, developing these skill areas can be a practical way to prepare, even outside of formal education programs.
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