Counter and Retail Clerks

The median hourly wage for counter and rental clerks was $17.98 per hour in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Working year-round at 40 hours per week, a clerk earning this wage would make approximately $37,400 annually. Ten percent of counter and rental clerks earned less than $27,330, and 10 percent earned more than $59,600 annually. Wages among clerks vary for a number of reasons including the industry in which they work. The DOL reports, for example, that those working in the automotive equipment rental and leasing field had mean annual earnings of $37,060, while those working in dry cleaning and laundry services had mean annual earnings of $31,850. Wages also vary among clerks due to factors such as size of the business, location in the country, and experience of the employee.

Those workers who have union affiliation (usually those who work for supermarkets) may earn considerably more than their nonunion counterparts. Full-time workers, especially those who are union members, might also receive benefits, such as paid vacation time and health insurance, but this is not the industry norm. Some businesses offer merchandise discounts for their employees. Part-time workers usually receive fewer benefits than those working full time.