Order Clerks: Materials and Service
| Description |
OES Code: 55323 |
Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Duties include informing customers of order receipt, prices, shipping dates, and delays; preparing contracts; and handling complaints. Exclude workers who dispatch as well as take orders for services.
Wages, Hourly
| Entry-Level Hourly Wage |
$8.22 |
| 25th Percentile |
$9.23 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) |
$11.26 |
| 75th Percentile |
$14.15 |
Wages by California County
• OES Survey
• CCOIS Survey
Hours and Benefits
Most Records Processing Clerks (a group of occupations which includes Order Clerks) work regular business hours. Order clerks in retail establishments typically work overtime nearing the end of the fiscal year or at other times when a deadline is near.
Employment Trends
| Employment 1998 |
47,700 |
| Projected Employment 2008 |
55,300 |
| Percent Change 1998-2008 |
15.9% |
| Separations 1998-2008 |
12,300 |
Employment Trends by California County
Employment of order clerks is expected to grow more slowly than the average through the year 2008, as office automation continues to increase worker productivity. As the economy grows, increasingly more orders for goods and services will be placed. Demand for outside order clerks who deal mainly with the public or other businesses should remain fairly strong. The increasing use of online retailing and toll-free numbers that make placing orders easy and convenient will stimulate demand for these workers. However, productivity gains from increased automation will offset some of the growth in demand for outside order clerks, as each clerk is able to handle an increasingly higher volume of orders. In addition, orders placed over the Internet and other computer systems are often entered directly into the computer by the customer; thus, the order clerk is not involved at all in placing the order.
Advancement
Most Records Processing Clerks (a group of occupations which includes Order Clerks) usually advance by taking on more duties in the same occupation for higher pay or transferring to a closely related occupation. For example, some order clerks use their experience to move into sales positions. Most companies fill office and administrative support supervisory and managerial positions by promoting individuals from within their organization, so information clerks who acquire additional skills, experience, and training improve their advancement opportunities. With appropriate experience and education, some clerks may become accountants; personnel specialists; securities, commodities, and financial services sales representatives.
Getting the Job & Other Information
Industries in which Order Clerks may find employment opportunities are: Food And Kindred Products, Apparel And Other Textile Products, Lumber And Wood Products, Except Furniture, Millwork, Plywood & Structural Members, Paper And Allied Products, Misc. Converted Paper Products, Printing And Publishing, Periodicals, Commercial Printing, Manifold Business Forms, Chemicals And Allied Products, Rubber And Misc. Plastics Products, Miscellaneous Plastics Products, Industrial Machinery And Equipment, Computer And Office Equipment, Electronic & Other Electric Equipment, Transportation Equipment, Instruments And Related Products, Measuring And Controlling Devices, Communications, Wholesale Trade-Durable Goods, Motor Vehicles, Parts, And Supplies, Furniture And Home furnishings, Lumber And Construction Materials, Professional & Commercial Equipment, Electrical Goods, Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment, Machinery, Equipment, And Supplies, Wholesale Trade-Nondurable Goods, Paper And Paper Products, Drugs, Proprietaries, And Sundries, Apparel, Piece Goods, And Notions, Groceries And Related Products, Chemicals And Allied Products, Misc. Non-durable Goods, General Merchandise Stores, Department Stores, Miscellaneous Retail, Nonstore Retailers, Business Services, Advertising, Mailing, Reproduction, Stenographic, Personnel Supply Services, Computer And Data Processing Services, and Miscellaneous Business Services
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Education and Training
Employers typically require applicants to have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. Although many employers prefer to hire record clerks with a higher level of education, it is only required in a few records processing occupations. For example, brokerage firms usually seek college graduates for brokerage clerk jobs, and order clerks in high-technology firms often need to understand scientific and mechanical processes, which may require some college education. Regardless of the type of work, most employers prefer workers who are computer-literate. Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software is especially valuable, as are experience working in an office and good interpersonal skills.
Records processing clerks often learn the skills they need in high schools, business schools, and community colleges. Business education programs offered by these institutions typically include courses in typing, word processing, shorthand, business communications, records management, and office systems and procedures. Specialized order clerks in technical positions obtain their training from technical institutes and 2- and 4-year colleges. Some entrants into records processing occupations are college graduates with degrees in business, finance, or liberal arts. Although a degree is rarely required, many graduates accept entry-level clerical positions to get into a particular company or to enter the finance or accounting field with the hope of being promoted to professional or managerial positions. Some companies, such as brokerage and accounting firms, have a set plan of advancement that tracks college graduates from entry-level clerical jobs into managerial positions. Workers with college degrees are likely to start at higher salaries and advance more easily than those without degrees.
Skills & Other Requirements
Some order clerks, especially those in industrial settings, must be able to give price estimates for entire jobs. Others must be able to take special orders, give expected arrival dates, prepare contracts, and handle complaints. Many order clerks must be capable of entering the information as the customer places the order by telephone. However, a rapidly increasing number of orders are now received through computer systems, the Internet, faxes, and e-mail. In some cases, these orders are sent directly from the customer's terminal to the order clerk's terminal. Orders received by regular mail are sometimes scanned into a database instantly accessible to clerks. Clerks must be able to review orders for completeness and clarity, complete missing information, contact the customer for the information, contact customers if customers need additional information such as prices or shipping dates. For orders received by regular mail, clerks will be expected to extract checks or money orders, sort them, and send them for processing.
References
US Bureau Of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Related Occupations: Records Processing Occupations
Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)
© 2001 State of California COICC, US Department of Labor
Unless otherwise noted, wage data source: CA EDD Occupational Employment Statistics Employer Survey. Other wage data may be based on Statewide aggregated CCOIS survey responses between 1995 and 1997.
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