Clerk Salary in the United States

How much does a Clerk make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Clerk in the United States is $42,600 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $20.

However, a Clerk's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $48,146
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $37,572 to $45,503
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $32,994
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View as table View as graph 25% $37,572 10% $32,994 90% $48,146 75% $45,503 $42,600 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Clerk Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $45,503 $3,792 $875 $22
Average $42,600 $3,550 $819 $20
25th Percentile $37,572 $3,131 $723 $18
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Key Factors That Influence Clerk Salaries

A Clerk's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Clerk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Clerk's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $39,387
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $39,782
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $42,472
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $44,009
  • Expert (over 8 years): $44,735
Levels Salary
Entry Level Clerk$39,387
Intermediate Level Clerk$39,782
Senior Level Clerk$42,472
Specialist Level Clerk$44,009
Expert Level Clerk$44,735
$39,387 0 yr
$39,782 < 2 yrs
$42,472 2-4 yrs
$44,009 5-8 yrs
$44,735 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Clerks

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $53,731
  • San Francisco: $53,203
  • Oakland: $52,023

What Skills Can Increase a Clerk's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 17.55% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 2.55% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Office Management (Mentioned in 1.59% Job Postings): Office management is a profession involving the design, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance of the process of work within an office or other organization, in order to sustain and improve efficiency and productivity.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 17.55%
Accounting 2.55%
Office Management 1.59%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Clerk's salary.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Brand Awareness: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Commitment
$46,860
10%
Analysis
$46,860
10%
Brand Awareness
$46,434
9%
Accountability
$46,008
8%
Sales and Marketing
$46,008
8%
Leadership
$45,156
6%
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How Education impacts a Clerk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Clerks enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Clerk with a No Diploma is between $41,442 and $43,785).

Clerk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Clerk
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 52.1%
Associates 12.7%
Bachelors 29.6%
Masters 4.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Clerk Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Clerk's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Clerk

Salaries for a Clerk can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $40,349 in 2023 to around $39,305 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Clerk salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Clerk Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$40,349
2024
$39,928
2025
$39,305
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $40,349
2024 $39,928
2025 $39,305
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Clerk

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Clerk

Here are companies hiring for Clerk and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Clerk Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Clerk job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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