Order Clerks

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.

What you'd actually do

• Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
• Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.
• Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
• Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
• Receive and respond to customer complaints.
• Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Some college. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work splits time indoors and out; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 5.5% of order clerks are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused and take-charge.

Related careers

• Brokerage Clerks
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
• Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping
• Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan
• Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Quick questions

How much does a order clerk make?

The median pay is $22.20 per hour — roughly $46,000 a year, with the real range running from about $17.08/hr (10th percentile) to $30.54/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a order clerk?

The typical entry-level education is: Some college. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a order clerk actually do all day?

Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing. Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms. Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.