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.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-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.
New accounts clerks focus on helping customers open and set up new accounts, typically in structured office or customer-service environments. This career combines customer interaction with administrative accuracy, making it a potential fit for people who are comfortable working with details, records, and basic financial or account information. Nationally, employment stands at 39,000, with about 2,000 openings projected each year, indicating ongoing turnover and replacement needs even as overall employment is expected to decline. The role emphasizes strong customer service, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail, supported by abilities in speaking, listening, and using computers and information technology. For people who enjoy working directly with customers while handling precise documentation, this occupation can provide a clear, skills-focused path. Similar occupations to consider include tellers; court, municipal, and license clerks; information and record clerks; financial clerks; and gambling cage workers.
New accounts clerks earn a national median annual salary of $46,610. Pay levels vary by location, and several states and metro areas offer higher typical wages. Among the top states by opportunity score, New York shows a median salary of $57,950 and California $52,100, both above the national median. Washington and Colorado also offer median salaries above $48,000, while Virginia is closer to the national figure at $46,350. At the metro level, pay can be even higher: New York-Newark-Jersey City has a median salary of $58,980, and the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro reports $58,410. Los Angeles and Seattle metros also exceed $52,000. These differences suggest that choosing certain states or metro areas can significantly influence earning potential for new accounts clerks.
New accounts clerks have national employment of 39,000, with projected employment growth of -13.2%. Despite this decline, the occupation is expected to have about 2,000 annual openings. This combination means that while the total number of jobs is projected to shrink, there will still be ongoing opportunities due to turnover, retirements, and workers moving to other fields. The negative growth projection applies consistently across the listed states and metro areas, each showing -13.2% growth. For job seekers, this points to a more competitive environment where focusing on strong skills in customer service, detail orientation, and computer use may help in securing available positions. People exploring this field may also want to be aware of related options such as tellers or other financial and information clerks when planning longer-term career moves.
Location can play a significant role in opportunity and pay for new accounts clerks. Among states, California and New York stand out with higher median salaries—$52,100 and $57,950 respectively—and the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores, at 67.38 and 65.78. New York also has relatively high employment at 4,800. Colorado, Washington, and Virginia offer moderate median salaries between about $46,000 and $52,830, with opportunity scores ranging from about 54.96 to 56.97, indicating additional regions worth consideration. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area ranks especially high, combining a median salary of $58,980, employment of 2,940, and an opportunity score of 77.27. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Boston-Cambridge-Newton also show strong opportunity scores above 63. Major metros like Los Angeles and Seattle provide median salaries above $52,000 and opportunity scores above 61, making them notable markets for this occupation.
New accounts clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, making this a field that is accessible without a college degree. Within that educational level, success in the role is closely tied to a specific set of skills. Customer service and interpersonal skills are central, since the job involves working directly with people who are opening new accounts. Mathematics and detail-oriented abilities support accurate handling of account information and documentation. Speaking and listening skills help with clear communication, while writing and reading are important for processing forms and records. Comfort with computers and information technology is also highlighted, reflecting the need to work with digital systems. Adaptability, fine motor skills, and leadership round out the profile, giving individuals multiple avenues to strengthen their readiness for this occupation through focused skill development alongside their basic educational credential.
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