Michigan Occupational Information System
#043 - COUNTER CLERK

A Michigan Jobs & Career Portal service.

Counter Clerk is a general title for a group of workers who provide service to customers directly or by telephone.

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Counter Clerks may:

Greet customers

Determine service needs of customers

Provide information to customers about available services

Calculate and explain rate charges

Receive payment from customers for services and make change

Keep records of transactions

Prepare customer order forms or work tickets

Answer or take orders over the telephone

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Counter Clerks may specialize in these areas:

238.367-038 HOTEL CLERKS greet and register hotel guests, provide information to guests and phone callers, issue keys, keep room records, collect payment for accommodations, and make and confirm reservations.

249.362-026 ORDER CLERKS process orders for merchandise, inform customers of receipt of orders, route orders to the proper departments, and determine credit ratings of customers.

247.367-010 CLASSIFIED-AD CLERKS receive orders for newspaper or magazine classified ads, determine rate charges, and keep records of transactions. They may mark advertisements that have expired and indicate the number of days others are to continue.

369.477-014 SERVICE-ESTABLISHMENT ATTENDANTS receive articles such as shoes and clothing to be repaired or cleaned in personal-service establishments. They examine articles to determine the nature and cost of repairs.

295.467-026 AUTOMOBILE-RENTAL CLERKS rent cars to customers at airports, hotels, marinas, and other locations. They determine rental rates and obtain necessary information from customers.

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

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Counter Clerks are usually supervised by a manager. The work is performed indoors, usually in clean surroundings. It involves talking with customers and handle materials.

Most Counter Clerks work 40 hours per week. In many instances, Clerks work on Saturdays or Sundays and take a day off during the week. Since hotels and some car rental offices are open 24 hours a day, Counter Clerks in these establishments often work nights, holidays, and weekends. Some Counter Clerks in hotels work only during the peak tourist season.

Retail Counter Clerks may join the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. Hotel clerks may join the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union. Automobile rental clerks are all members of The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of America. Union members must pay dues.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities concerned with the communication of ideas

• Activities concerned with the communication of information

• Activities of a routine, definite, and organized nature

• Activities that involve meeting and helping people

You Should Be Able To:

• Deal effectively with people in actual job duties

• Rate information according to personal judgment or

• Perform a variety of duties which may change often

• Keep accurate records and accounts

• Follow instructions

• Perform arithmetical operations quickly and accurately

• See details and recognize errors in written materials or charts

Physically You Must Be Able To:

• Use your hands and arms to reach for materials or objects

• Speak and hear clearly

• Maintain a good appearance

• Stand for long periods of time

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

A customer is buying an item that costs $14.95 and it is 20% off. How much is the item?

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Should be able to read and understand accounting terms. For example, cash proceeds, discount rate, sales discount, account for notes receivable and payable, net purchases.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare an order form for a new supply of cook books.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be able to memorize prices and sale information. Must be able to think quickly and effectively.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: On-The-Job Training provided by the employer or a High School Diploma or Equivalent or a High School Diploma with specific Vocational Education Classes may qualify a person for this occupation.

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

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1300 ENGLISH , 2800 PUBLIC SPEAKING , 3100 STUDY & WORK OPTIONS

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

011 MARKETING EDUCATION

Approved vocational education programs in Marketing Education prepare students for occupations in moving industrial and consumer goods and providing services to users of those goods. These programs deal with marketing, sales, distribution, merchandising, and management. In addition, these programs provide instruction in buying, pricing, promoting, financing, storage, and market research.

The following courses 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***

There are no Postsecondary Programs related to this MOIScript  

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Training Programs related to this MOIScript  

E-Learning Courses and Programs  

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Knowledge of a foreign language can be helpful to Hotel Clerks working in some large hotels or resorts that receive many foreign guests.

Some part-time or summer jobs are available in resort hotels. Experience may be gained in secondary vocational marketing education programs and in military service.

Persons seeking employment as Counter Clerks should apply directly to hotels or motels, stores, dry cleaners, car-rental offices, and other employers. Applicants for positions with government agencies must usually pass a test. Assistance in locating a job may be available from local offices of Michigan Works!, local unions, and school placement offices. Job openings are frequently listed in newspaper want ads. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:  

Michigan Talent Bank

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal  

Classifieds Employment

Yahoo! Careers

Michigan Works!

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

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Counter Clerks vary by the size and location of the establishment and by the type of duties performed. Clerks also performing other clerical duties usually receive the highest pay in this occupation. Order Clerks generally had higher wage offers than those of other Counter Clerks.

Nationally, median annual earnings in 1998 of all Counter Clerks were $23,452. Order Clerks had the highest earnings per year, while sales counter Clerks earned the least.

Some unionized Hotel Clerks employed by a major hotel in the Detroit area had minimum annual wages of $16,825 for reservation & key Clerks and front office Clerks in 1999. Hotel Clerks usually receive higher pay for working the night shift.

The average annual salary of private sector order Clerks in Michigan was $22,900 in 1998. Sales Counter Clerks in southeastern Michigan had average annual salaries of $17,700 (1998).

The State of Michigan employs Counter Clerks in several different jobs. Annual salaries for these jobs ranged from $24,690 to $33,405 in 1999.

Depending on the employer, fringe benefits for Counter Clerks may include life and medical insurance, paid vacations, holidays, pensions, and work uniforms, if required. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.

Advancement depends on work performance, education and training, supervisory ability, and possession of desired personal characteristics. Large chain stores or hotels offer the best opportunities for promotion because employees can transfer to various locations within the chain or to the central office if an opening occurs.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, in 1996, about 864,900 Counter Clerks were employed in this occupation. About 1.4% were self-employed. Employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2006. The industry distribution for Counter Clerks looked like this:

Approximately 29,000 Counter Clerks are employed in Michigan. Most worked in urban areas. Many worked for wholesale distributors or retail businesses. Others worked for manufacturing companies, laundry and dry cleaning businesses, hotels and motels, recreation establishments, car rental companies, and utility companies.

Employment of Counter Clerks in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. An average of 1,320 job openings is expected yearly with 500 due to growth and 820 for replacement of workers who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur to replace clerks who transfer to other jobs or occupations. Because thee employment of counter clerks is subject to ups and downs in the economy, the number of openings may vary from year to year. E-commerce via the Internet is beginning to lessen the need for counter clerks in many businesses, because customers can purchase/order directly on-line with ease and no intervention. In the hotel/motel industry, the use of on-line and computer software systems has somewhat limited the demand for Counter Clerks.

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

SUMMARY PROFILE

The occupation of Counter Clerk can be summarized by the following:

MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development