A  Michigan Jobs and Career Portal  service.

Billing Machine Operators prepare statements, bills, and invoices to be sent to customers, itemizing the amount customers owe, using a billing machine.  

JOB DUTIES  

Billing Machine Operators may:

Insert billing sheets in the machine and set the carriage  

Transcribe data from office records  

Calculate totals, net amounts, and discounts  

The tools and equipment used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES  

Billing Machine Operators may specialize in these areas:

214.482-010 BILLING-MACHINE OPERATORS prepare statements, bills and invoices to be sent to customers, itemize the amount owed, and use a billing machine. Some billing machine operators prepare only one type of bill and may have titles such as delinquent-notice machine operator.  

216.482-018 AUDIT-MACHINE OPERATORS add sales slips or register tapes using an auditing machine. They compute subtotals and types of sales such as cash, charge, installment, and will-call for individual sales departments.  

216.482-022 CALCULATING-MACHINE OPERATORS compute and record statistical, accounting, and other numerical data , utilizing a knowledge of mathematics and a machine or computer that automatically performs mathematical processes.  

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

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS  

In large offices, Billing Machine Operators may work under the direct supervision of an office manager or other supervisor. In small offices, Operators may work under little or no supervision.  

Billing Machine Operators work in well lighted, comfortable offices. Work areas are usually noisy, which may make concentration difficult for some workers.  

The normal workweek is usually 5 days, 40 hours. Saturday or over-time work may be necessary occasionally to meet deadlines.  

Some Billing Machine Operators may join a union such as The Office and Professional Employees International Union. Members must pay periodic dues.  

You Should Prefer:

• Doing routine, standardized work activities  

• Working with set methods and procedures  

• Working with things and objects  

You Should Be Able To:

• Work with extreme accuracy  

• Understand numerical, record keeping, and data gathering procedures  

• Detect errors in computations  

• Work well with your fingers and hands  

• Operate alpha-numeric keyboards  

• Coordinate movement between eyes and hands  

• Repeat tasks of short duration and routine procedures  

• Perform arithmetical operations quickly and accurately  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

On July 15, a VISA credit card money withdrawal of $300 was made. If VISA's charge is 5%, the correct journal entry to record the credit card transaction for the day would be:  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Should be able to read and comprehend billing terms and procedures such as invoice, debit, credit, allowances, FOB, COD, discount, and sales tax.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a billing invoice indicating specific terms of payment.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be able to demonstrate analytical skills and be detail oriented in preparing invoices, statement, and other billing information.  

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 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 the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0600 BUSINESS , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 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 a co-op portion which includes practical experience. Other opportunities include summer or part-time work in business offices as well as postsecondary programs in bookkeeping.  

                School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Billing Machine Operator employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Billing Machine Operator employer  

community service work with an agency  

The most common way of becoming a Billing Machine Operator is direct application to employers. Assistance may be available in high school or college placement offices or local Michigan Works! offices. Job openings may be 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

America's Job Bank  

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

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT  

Earnings of Billing Machine Operators vary by the location, the type of employer, and the Operator's ability.  

Nationally, Billing Machine Operators generally earned between $10,400 and $38,999 per year in 1995. The median salary nationally was $18,460. Office Machine Operators employed by the federal government had starting salaries of either $12,348 or $13,923 per year, depending on their experience (1996). The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas.  

In Michigan, Billing Machine Operators earned an average annual income between $12,156 and $21,828 in 1995. Approximate annual salaries paid to Billing Machine Operators by local government agencies in Michigan (early 1996) were:  

Billing Machine Operators employed by the State of Michigan earned from $21,026 to $30,610 per year in mid 1996.  

Some employers pay annual bonuses on the number of years worked, job performance, or company profits. Some employers also pay cost-of-living allowances.  

Most Billing Machine Operators have paid vacations, holidays, and sick leave; hospitalization, life, and accident insurance; and pension plans. Some employers also provide dental insurance, optical care plans, and full or partial reimbursement for educational expenses. Some companies have savings and stock investment plans for salaried employees. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by employers.  

In small companies, advancement is in the form of pay increases in most cases. In larger businesses, Operators may advance to senior operator or supervisor. Most employers promote from within their companies, taking into consideration seniority and job performance. With additional education and/or experience, Billing Machine Operators might advance to bookkeeper positions.  

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK  

Nationally, about 96,200 Billing, posting, and calculating Machine Operators were employed in 1996. Employment is expected to decline through the year 2005. The industry distribution for Billing, Posting, and Calculating Machine Operator looked like this:  

Growth in this occupation has been limited because of the spread of computerized office equipment, which has altered the way the job is performed. Because these new machines have raised workers' productivity, fewer new workers will be needed to handle the increased workload in the coming years.  

There are approximately 2,900 Billing, posting, and calculating Machine Operators employed in Michigan. Most worked for wholesale and retail businesses, banks, service firms, and manufacturing companies.  

Employment of Billing Machine Operators is expected to decline through the year 2005. An average of 100 openings per year is expected, with all due to replacement of Operators who retire or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change their jobs or occupations.  

More organizations are changing to automated systems, enabling workers to be more productive. Employment is not expected to grow as the volume of work does. While the use of computerized billing and record keeping systems is growing, many large businesses are centralizing their record keeping operations. The best opportunities will be for those who can adapt quickly to the new systems.  

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  

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

MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development