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.
Some college, no degree
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.
Order clerks support business operations by handling orders and related information, drawing on technology, communication, and customer-focused skills. Nationally, there are about 90,000 jobs in this occupation, with a national median salary of $44,660. People in this role rely on computers and information technology, mathematics, and strong speaking and listening abilities to keep order processes accurate and efficient. Customer service, interpersonal skills, and writing and reading are also important for working with both customers and colleagues. Creativity and innovation, adaptability, and project management can help order clerks respond to changing priorities and improve how work gets done. While projected employment growth for order clerks is -17.2%, there are still an estimated 8,000 annual openings, which may appeal to job seekers who value steady replacement demand. For those exploring related paths, similar occupations include various sales roles, customer service representatives, and information and record clerks, providing additional options that draw on overlapping skills.
Order clerks earn a national median annual salary of $44,660. Pay varies by location, and some states and metro areas offer higher median wages than the national figure. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts stands out with a median salary of $55,040, followed by Colorado at $49,530, New York at $48,320, Washington at $47,990, and California at $47,290. At the metro level, median salaries are even higher in some locations. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro has a median salary of $58,170 for order clerks, and the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro reports $55,090. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area shows $51,450, while the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metros have median salaries of $47,820 and $47,580, respectively. These differences illustrate how location can influence earning potential for this career.
Order clerks currently hold about 90,000 jobs nationally. The occupation is projected to experience employment growth of -17.2%. Even with this projected decline, the occupation is expected to have about 8,000 annual openings. These openings reflect ongoing labor-market movement as people change jobs, retire, or leave the workforce. The combination of negative growth and continued annual openings means that, while the total number of positions is projected to decrease, there will still be opportunities for job seekers over time. Because the projected growth rate is -17.2% both nationally and in the highlighted states and metro areas, job seekers should pay close attention to local conditions and competition when planning a path into or within this field. Exploring similar occupations—such as customer service representatives, various sales roles, and information and record clerks—can provide alternative options for individuals who develop the core skills associated with order clerks.
Location plays a significant role in opportunity for order clerks, as shown by differences in salaries, employment levels, and opportunity scores. Among states, California has the largest employment level at 12,390 order clerks, with a median salary of $47,290 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts combines a higher median salary of $55,040 with an opportunity score of 65.87, despite a smaller employment base of 1,350. New York (employment 3,530, median salary $48,320), Colorado (1,970, $49,530), and Washington State (4,300, $47,990) also rank highly by opportunity score. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with the highest opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $58,170. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro follows closely with a 77.27 opportunity score and 4,120 jobs. Other strong metros include San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, each offering different balances of pay and employment levels.
The typical education level for order clerks is some college with no degree. This makes the occupation accessible to people who have completed some postsecondary coursework but have not finished a degree program. Because there is no higher formal degree listed as typical, developing the right skills is especially important for standing out. Core skills for this role include computers and information technology and mathematics, which support handling orders and related data. Customer service, interpersonal abilities, and strong speaking and listening skills are central to working with customers and colleagues. Writing and reading help with accurate documentation and communication. Adaptability, project management, leadership, and creativity and innovation can support growth into more complex responsibilities within the order process. People considering related paths might also look at similar occupations such as various sales roles, customer service representatives, and information and record clerks, which draw on overlapping education and skill profiles.
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