Returns Clerk Salary in the United States

How much does a Returns Clerk make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Returns Clerk in the United States is $38,057 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $18.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $44,527
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $35,626 to $41,444
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,412
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $35,626 10% $33,412 90% $44,527 75% $41,444 $38,057 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Returns Clerk Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $41,444 $3,454 $797 $20
Average $38,057 $3,171 $732 $18
25th Percentile $35,626 $2,969 $685 $17
Check out Returns Clerk Job Openings in the United States
Returns Clerk

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Seasonal warehouse Returns Clerk

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Key Factors That Influence Returns Clerk Salaries

A Returns 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 Returns Clerk Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Returns 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): $37,808
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $41,854
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,218
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $59,216
  • Expert (over 8 years): $66,492
Levels Salary
Returns C... Level Returns Clerk$37,808
Returns C... Level Returns Clerk$41,854
Returns C... Level Returns Clerk$46,218
Returns S... Level Returns Clerk$59,216
Returns M... Level Returns Clerk$66,492
$37,808 0 yr
$41,854 < 2 yrs
$46,218 2-4 yrs
$59,216 5-8 yrs
$66,492 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Returns Clerk Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Returns Clerks. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $42,136.
  • California: $41,976.
  • Massachusetts: $41,417.

Top Paying Cities for Returns 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: $48,001
  • San Francisco: $47,529
  • Oakland: $46,475

What Skills Can Increase a Returns Clerk's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 17.21% 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.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.43% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 1.62% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 17.21%
Microsoft Office 2.43%
Data Entry 1.62%
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 Returns Clerk's salary.
  • Data Warehouse: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Safety Standards: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Returns Processing: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Data Warehouse
 $44,907
18%
Safety Standards
 $44,907
18%
Returns Processing
 $43,384
14%
Customer Service
 $40,340
6%
Integrity
 $39,959
5%
Warehouse Management
 $39,198
3%
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How Education impacts a Returns Clerk's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Returns 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 Returns Clerk with a No Diploma is between $35,896 and $38,357).

Returns Clerk Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Returns Clerk
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 16.7%
High School 16.7%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 83.3%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Returns Clerk Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Returns 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on April 01, 2026
$35,626
Average $38,057/year
$41,444
$2,969
Average $3,171/month
$3,454
$685
Average $732/week
$797
$17
Average $18/hour
$20
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $41,444 $3,454 $797 $20
Average $38,057 $3,171 $732 $18
25th Percentile $35,626 $2,969 $685 $17

Salaries of jobs related to Returns Clerk

Salary Trends for Returns Clerk

Salaries for a Returns Clerk can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $39,197 in 2023 to around $38,518 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Returns Clerk salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Returns Clerk Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$39,197
2024
$38,830
2025
$38,518
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $39,197
2024 $38,830
2025 $38,518
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Returns Clerk

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

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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.)

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