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Order Clerks
Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Generally receives orders via mail, phone, fax, or other electronic means. Duties include informing customers of receipt, prices, shipping dates, and delays; preparing contracts; and handling complaints.
Other titles employers use
Hub Associate · Materials Specialist · Order Analyst · Order Clerk · Order Entry Administrator (Order Entry Admin) · Order Entry Representative (Order Entry Rep) · Order Processing Clerk · Order Taker
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Review orders for completeness according to reporting procedures and forward incomplete orders for further processing.
- Obtain customers' names, addresses, and billing information, product numbers, and specifications of items to be purchased, and enter this information on order forms.
- Recommend merchandise or services that will meet customers' needs.
- Inspect outgoing work for compliance with customers' specifications.
- Receive and respond to customer complaints.
- Check inventory records to determine availability of requested merchandise.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing and persuading work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Service Orientation
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Production and Processing
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.5 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.5 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.6 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for some college. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 63%
- A certificate or some college 25%
- A four-year degree 12%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Internet browser software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Document management software
- Accounting software
- Spreadsheet software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 15,800
- Job openings each year
- 1,660
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- −15.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 15,800 | 1,660 | −15.1% |
| Florida | 9,150 | 990 | −11.3% |
| Connecticut | 9,050 | 1,100 | 23.3% |
| Texas | 6,860 | 770 | −3.2% |
| New Jersey | 6,340 | 670 | −15.6% |
| Illinois | 4,980 | 510 | −18.6% |
| Washington | 4,730 | 610 | 12.9% |
| Michigan | 3,740 | 380 | −21.4% |
| New York | 3,480 | 0 | −1.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,480 | 360 | −17.9% |
| Ohio | 3,410 | 350 | −19.4% |
| North Carolina | 3,260 | 350 | −14.2% |
| Oklahoma | 3,060 | 330 | −11.3% |
| Georgia | 2,980 | 320 | −12.4% |
| Missouri | 2,790 | 290 | −18.9% |
| Nevada | 2,690 | 310 | 6.3% |
| Tennessee | 2,690 | 300 | −5.3% |
| Colorado | 2,580 | 280 | −11.9% |
| Indiana | 2,170 | 230 | −17.8% |
| Utah | 1,800 | 200 | −5.8% |
| Wisconsin | 1,730 | 180 | −13.1% |
| Oregon | 1,470 | 160 | −5.8% |
| Virginia | 1,440 | 150 | −16.8% |
| Kentucky | 1,350 | 140 | −12.9% |
| Arizona | 1,210 | 130 | −10.4% |
| Maryland | 1,150 | 120 | −15.4% |
| South Carolina | 1,080 | 130 | 3.8% |
| Iowa | 930 | 100 | −12.3% |
| Idaho | 910 | 100 | −8.1% |
| Minnesota | 790 | 80 | −16.0% |
| Louisiana | 700 | 70 | −17.6% |
| Maine | 670 | 70 | −16.3% |
| Nebraska | 650 | 70 | −16.7% |
| Puerto Rico | 590 | 70 | −3.3% |
| New Hampshire | 520 | 60 | −14.8% |
| Arkansas | 500 | 50 | −13.8% |
| Massachusetts | 450 | 50 | −16.7% |
| Alabama | 430 | 50 | −14.0% |
| Kansas | 390 | 40 | −17.0% |
| Mississippi | 360 | 40 | −16.3% |
| New Mexico | 290 | 30 | −14.7% |
| West Virginia | 260 | 30 | 4.0% |
| Delaware | 220 | 20 | −15.4% |
| Alaska | 200 | 20 | — |
| Montana | 190 | 20 | −13.6% |
| South Dakota | 190 | 20 | −5.0% |
| Vermont | 170 | 20 | −15.0% |
| Rhode Island | 100 | 10 | −9.1% |
| North Dakota | 60 | 10 | −14.3% |
| Wyoming | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Valdosta State University
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college FLThe University of Tampa
- Degrees each year
- 16
- Admit rate
- 41%
- Annual cost after aid
- $32,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college MONorthwest Missouri State University
- Degrees each year
- 2
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open collegeCompare every college offering business operations support and assistant services