Order Clerks
SOC: 43-4151.00

Description:

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.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
195,900 employed

Projected (2024):
194,300 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • Ad Taker
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Advertising Clerk
  • Advertising Space Clerk
  • Auto Locator
  • Back Order Clerk
  • Blood Bank Credit Clerk
  • Blood Bank Order Control Clerk
  • Catalogue Clerk
  • Classified Ad Clerk
  • Classified Ad Taker
  • Clerical Order Filler
  • Clerk
  • Compliance Clerk
  • Contact Clerk
  • Contact Person
  • Contact Worker
  • Customer Care Representative (CCR)
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Electrotype Servicer
  • Film Rental Clerk
  • Food and Beverage Order Clerk
  • Gas Distribution and Emergency Clerk
  • Hub Associate
  • Mail Order Clerk
  • Materials Scheduler
  • Materials Specialist
  • Merchandise Processor
  • New Order Clerk or Taker
  • Order Administrator
  • Order Analyst
  • Order Booker
  • Order Caller
  • Order Clerk
  • Order Desk Clerk
  • Order Editor
  • Order Entry Administrator
  • Order Entry Clerk
  • Order Entry Representative
  • Order Entry Specialist
  • Order Make Up Clerk
  • Order Processing Clerk
  • Order Processor
  • Order Taker
  • Order Tracer
  • Receiver
  • Receiver Dispatcher
  • Reordering Clerk
  • Routing Clerk
  • Service Order Clerk
  • Shipping and Receiving Clerk
  • Shipping Coordinator
  • Stock Clerk
  • Subscription Clerk
  • Telephone Ad Taker
  • Telephone Order Clerk
  • Want Ad Clerk
  • Want Ad Receiver
  • Warehouse Clerk

    • Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

    Education:

    These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Operations Analysis
  • Equipment Selection
  • Programming
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Design
  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.
  • Prepare invoices, shipping documents, and contracts.
  • Inform customers by mail or telephone of order information, such as unit prices, shipping dates, and any anticipated delays.
  • Receive and respond to customer complaints.
  • Verify customer and order information for correctness, checking it against previously obtained information as necessary.
  • Direct specified departments or units to prepare and ship orders to designated locations.
  • Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.
  • Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
  • Attempt to sell additional merchandise or services to prospective or current customers by telephone or through visits.
  • File copies of orders received, or post orders on records.
  • Compute total charges for merchandise or services and shipping charges.
  • Confer with production, sales, shipping, warehouse, or common carrier personnel to expedite or trace shipments.
  • Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
  • Adjust inventory records to reflect product movement.
  • Collect payment for merchandise, record transactions, and send items such as checks or money orders for further processing.
  • Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
  • Notify departments when supplies of specific items are low, or when orders would deplete available supplies.
  • Recommend type of packing or labeling needed on order.
  • Calculate and compile order-related statistics, and prepare reports for management.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • Belt diverters
  • Conveyer belts
  • Copy machines
  • Credit card authorization software
  • Electronic cash registers
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Multiline telephone systems
  • Personal computers
  • Printing calculators
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat software
  • Automated manifest system software
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Data entry software
  • Email software
  • IBM Sterling Configure, Price, Quote
  • Intuit QuickBooks software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft System Center
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
  • Oracle software
  • SAP software
  • Web browser software

    • office and administrative support

    industry stats

    SOC: 43-0000

    Total Employed: 21,846,420

    Average Annual Salary: $36,330