Information clerks held about 1.5 million jobs in 2018. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up information clerks was distributed as follows:
| Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks | 265,400 |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan | 204,600 |
| Order clerks | 166,800 |
| Information and record clerks, all other | 166,000 |
| Court, municipal, and license clerks | 150,500 |
| Eligibility interviewers, government programs | 145,200 |
| Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks | 133,700 |
| Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping | 129,300 |
| File clerks | 116,900 |
| Correspondence clerks | 5,900 |
The largest employers of information clerks were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 13% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 12 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 7 |
| Federal government | 7 |
| Administrative and support services | 6 |
Information clerks work in nearly every industry. Although most clerks work in offices, interviewers may travel to applicants’ locations to meet with them.
The work of information clerks who provide customer service can be stressful, particularly when dealing with dissatisfied customers.
Reservation and transportation ticket agents at airports or shipping counters lift and maneuver heavy luggage or packages, which may weigh up to 100 pounds.
Injuries and Illnesses
Information clerks who work as reservation and transportation ticket agents are sometimes injured on the job. The most common injuries are muscle strains, such as those that may occur from lifting heavy suitcases.
Work Schedules
Most information clerks work full time. However, part-time work is common for hotel clerks and file clerks.
Clerks in lodging and transportation establishments that are open around the clock may work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Information clerks typically need a high school diploma and learn their skills on the job.
Education
Although candidates for most of these positions usually qualify with a high school diploma, human resources assistants generally need an associate’s degree. Regardless of whether they pursue a degree, courses in word processing and spreadsheet applications are particularly helpful.
Training
Most information clerks receive short-term on-the-job training, usually lasting a few weeks. Training typically covers clerical procedures and the use of computer applications. Those employed in government receive training that may last several months and includes learning about government programs and regulations.
Advancement
Some information clerks may advance to other administrative positions with more responsibilities, such as secretaries and administrative assistants. With completion of a bachelor’s degree, some human resources assistants may become human resources specialists.
Information clerks typically have an interest in the Helping, Persuading and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Helping interest area indicates a focus on assisting, serving, counseling, or teaching other people. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Helping or Persuading or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as an information clerk, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Information clerks should also possess the following specific qualities:
Communication skills. Information clerks must be able to clearly explain policies and procedures to customers and the public.
Integrity. Information clerks, particularly human resources assistants, have access to confidential information, and they must be trusted to keep this information private.
Interpersonal skills. Good people skills are important because information clerks deal with the public. They must understand and communicate information effectively to establish positive relationships.
Organizational skills. Being organized helps information clerks retrieve files and other important information quickly and efficiently.
The median annual wage for information clerks was $35,390 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,050, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,590.
Median annual wages for information clerks in May 2019 were as follows:
| Eligibility interviewers, government programs | $46,590 |
| Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping | 41,430 |
| Information and record clerks, all other | 41,360 |
| Court, municipal, and license clerks | 39,380 |
| Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks | 38,380 |
| Correspondence clerks | 38,140 |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan | 34,970 |
| Order clerks | 34,240 |
| File clerks | 32,710 |
| Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks | 24,470 |
In May 2019, the median annual wages for information clerks in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Federal government | $45,980 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 40,000 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 39,720 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 35,740 |
| Administrative and support services | 34,220 |
Most information clerks work full time. However, part-time work is common for hotel clerks and file clerks.
Clerks who work in lodging and transportation establishments that are open around the clock may work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Employment of information clerks is projected to show little or no change from 2018 to 2028. Employment growth of information clerks will vary by occupation. (See table below.)
Growth in the overall employment of information clerks is expected to be limited as organizations and businesses combine their administrative functions. For example, businesses increasingly use online applications for benefits and employment, thereby streamlining the process and requiring fewer workers.
Furthermore, increased use of online ordering and reservations systems and self-service ticketing kiosks will result in the need for fewer clerks to process orders and maintain files. In some businesses, including medical offices, receptionists and other workers are increasingly performing tasks that used to be done by clerks.
Job Prospects
Overall job prospects should be good because of the need to replace workers who leave the occupation each year. Workers with clerical or customer service experience and education beyond high school should have the best prospects.
For more information about human resources assistants, visit
Society for Human Resource Management
CareerOneStop
For a career video on interviewers, except eligibility and loan, visit
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan