Michigan Occupational Information System
#032 - BILLING CLERK

Billing Clerks (also called Billing Typists) prepare statements, invoices, and bills of lading (contracts issued to a shipper by a Transportation agency).

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Billing Clerks may:

Figure amounts due from such items as purchase orders, sales tickets, and charge slips

Adjust amounts for discounts

Type information such as items sold, amounts due, credit terms, and date of shipment on invoices or other forms

Keep records of invoices

Telephone customers about their accounts

Type shipping labels, credit memorandums, and credit forms

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

214.362-042 BILLING CLERKS may have other titles according to the type of billing done, such as bill-of-lading clerk, invoice clerk, mail-order biller, or toll-billing clerk.

214.382-014 BILLING TYPISTS issue invoices for work performed for a customer, such as plumbing, sheetmetal, and insulation work. Other Billing Clerks have specialized duty titles.

214.387-010 BILLING-CONTROL CLERKS work for electric and natural gas companies. They review and post data from meter books, mark special accounts, and compute charges for utility services.

214.482-014 DEPOSIT-REFUND CLERKS prepare final bills for mailing to gas and electric-power customers.

214.362-026 INVOICE-CONTROL CLERKS examine the vendors' (sellers') invoices to check data against other records to ensure receipt of items ordered. They contact vendors and shippers about problems with orders.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Billing Clerks work alone but may work around other Clerks in the billing departments of larger employers. A billing manager or office manager supervises them.

Offices are generally clean, well lighted and well ventilated. Offices may be small and plain or fairly large and comfortably equipped. Billing Clerks generally work a 5-day, 40-hour week. In some instances, such as heavy billing periods around Christmas or near the end of an accounting period, overtime may be required. Some Billing Clerks may belong to the Office and Professional Employees International Union or other unions that represent employees where they work. Union members must pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a routine, concrete, and organized nature

• Activities concerned with communication of data

You Should Be Able To:

• Follow instructions

• Attain to set limits and standards

• Read and copy words and numbers accurately

• Perform the same work repeatedly

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

On January 1, 1993, the Barley Company purchased a machine with a list price of $18,000, which was invoiced at $15,000 (terms 3/15, n/60, FOB destination). The invoice was paid within the discount period. The freight company charged the seller $500 to ship the machine, and the Barley company incurred $350 in installation costs. The total cost of the machine is $____________.

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Must be able to read and understand billing and shipping information such as FOB destination and COD.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare an invoice for a purchase order.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

When dealing with many individuals at one time, it is necessary to use organizational skills and keep track of daily transactions as accurately as possible.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer with a High School Diploma or Equivalent or a High School Diploma with specific Vocational Education Classes or a Certificate (program of up to one year of study beyond high school) or an Associate Degree (two years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this MOIScript:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 2000 LIFE MANAGEMENT , 2200 MATH , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

005 ACCOUNTING & COMPUTING

Approved programs in Accounting and Computing prepare students to compute, calculate, and record numbers to keep financial records. Instruction includes using billing machines, bookkeeping machines, and computers to prepare bills and reports, obtain records, and find information. Courses in other office & distributive education programs may be required for completion of this program.

010 BUSINESS SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY

Approved programs in the Business Services and Technology are a combination of programs in accounting and computing, business data processing, and secretarial programs. The "cluster" provides students with access to acquiring an employable skill for an occupation within the broad field of business and office. Courses in other business and office programs may be required for completion of this program.

High school students should consult their guidance office for more information about the specific requirements of this program at their school or area vocational education center.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

181 BOOKKEEPING

Programs in Bookkeeping provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed for employment maintaining records of daily business transactions. Individuals who teach Bookkeeping at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching Certificate.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

 Search for a College and/or Instructional Program 

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript

***MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript

   E-Learning Courses and Programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Secondary vocational education programs in business services and technology, or accounting and computing may offer co-op portions through which experience may be gained. Other ways to obtain experience include summer or part-time work that is available in many businesses as well as work-experience programs through community colleges. Postsecondary programs in bookkeeping may offer opportunities for experience also.

            School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Billing Clerk employer

internships

volunteer work with a Billing Clerk employer

community service work with an agency

To get a job as a Billing Clerk, apply directly to businesses or manufacturing firms. You may receive assistance from school placement offices, local offices of Michigan Works! or by reading newspaper want ads that list available positions. Applicants for government jobs may be required to pass a competitive examination. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

Michigan Talent Bank (http://www.michworks.org/mtb/user/MTB_EMPL.EntryMainPage)

Yahoo! Careers (http://careers.yahoo.com/)

Classifieds Employment (http://www.classifieds2000.com)

Michigan Department of Career Development (http://www.michigan.gov/mdcd)

Michigan Works! (http://www.michiganworks.org)

            You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Wages of Billing Clerks depend on individual skill and experience, type of business, and geographic location. Earnings are highest in large urban areas in the manufacturing industry. Nationally, median annual earnings for full-time Billing Clerks were $12.00  (2001).  The median hourly earnings of  "all" workers in the U.S. were $14.92 in 2001.

According to a 2001 survey of private employers, Billing Clerks had hourly salaries which averaged:

  Annual earnings of Medical Billing Clerks employed by hospitals throughout Michigan in 2001were:

Some Billing Clerks receive annual bonuses based on length of service. Those who work holidays, weekends, or nights receive extra pay.

The 2000 graduates of Michigan vocational education programs working in jobs related to this occupation earned a beginning average of $8.13 per hour in 2001.

Billing Clerks may receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, and hospitalization insurance; sick leave; pension or annuity plans; and a savings and stock investment plan. The employer pays for at least part of these benefits.

Billing Clerks with experience may advance to become billing machine operators, billing managers, and office managers. Advancement to positions in management may be possible if an employee has managerial abilities. Formal education in business management and administration may be helpful.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, approximately 504,400 Billing Clerks were employed in 2000. Employment of Billing Clerks is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2010. The industry distribution for Billing Clerks looked like this:

Growth may occur as the volume of goods bought and sold increases, and as the population expands. Increases in health services and in credit purchases may stimulate the demand for Billing Clerks. However, increasing use of automated billing processes is expected to offset most of the increase in billing volume.

There are approximately 12,275 Billing Clerks employed in Michigan. Most of them worked in urban areas for businesses and manufacturing firms.  

The employment of Billing Clerks in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as  the average for all occupations through the year 2008. An average of 320 annual openings is expected, with 70 due to growth and 250 due to replacement of those who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.

The number of Billing Clerks employed in Michigan increases as businesses expand and necessary paperwork increases. Expansion of utility services to areas of new construction contributes to the need for more Billing Clerks. In addition, the trend toward more purchases on credit stimulates the demand for Billing Clerks. However, this demand is affected by ups and downs in the economy. During good economic times, increased sales of goods and services will increase the demand in the retail trade, wholesale trade, and manufacturing sectors. There are increases in efficiency from the use of billing software and computers, but this is more than offset by the greater demand for billing services.  

  MICHIGAN'S AREA EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2008

          EMPLOYMENT                  NUMBER                           PERCENT                       PROJECTED YEARLY           REGION                               EMPLOYED                     GROWTH                        JOB OPENINGS

         Ann Arbor Area                     455                                    13.8                                  15

          Battle Creek Area                  245                                    12.6                                   8

          Benton Harbor Area               295                                    6.5                                     8

          Central Michigan                    160                                    6.3                                      4

          Detroit MSA                          5,960                                 6.9                                     159  

          East Central Michigan            100                                    13.0                                    3

          Flint Area                               475                                    8.8                                     13

          Grand Rapids Area                1,410                                 7.7                                      39

           Jackson Area                        325                                    7.1                                      8

           Kalamazoo Area                   415                                    10.3                                    12  

           Lansing MSA                        535                                   10.1                                     16

           Muskegon Area                    190                                    5.9                                       5

           Northeast Lower Peninsula    130                                    7.0                                       4

           Northwest Lower Peninsula   350                                   13.1                                     12

           Saginaw MSA                       500                                   10.2                                     15

           Thumb Area                          175                                   10.2                                      6

           Upper Peninsula                     340                                   1.5                                       8

           West Central Michigan           100                                   13.3                                     3    

MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area  

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below:

SUMMARY PROFILE

The following can summarize the occupation of Billing Clerk:

Copyright © 2003 Michigan Department of Career Development