Information clerks held about 1.4 million jobs in 2021. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up information clerks was distributed as follows:
| Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks | 238,800 |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan | 176,300 |
| Information and record clerks, all other | 165,600 |
| Eligibility interviewers, government programs | 156,900 |
| Court, municipal, and license clerks | 156,800 |
| Order clerks | 143,900 |
| Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks | 109,200 |
| Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping | 106,100 |
| File clerks | 93,400 |
| Correspondence clerks | 7,800 |
The largest employers of information clerks were as follows:
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 15% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 12 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 |
| Federal government | 7 |
| Administrative and support services | 5 |
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
Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Lifting and maneuvering heavy luggage or packages may lead to sprains, strains, or overexertion. To avoid injuries, these workers must follow procedures, such as protocols for safe lifting.
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 $37,450 in May 2021. 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 $24,010, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $60,230.
Median annual wages for information clerks in May 2021 were as follows:
| Eligibility interviewers, government programs | $47,420 |
| Human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping | 45,630 |
| Court, municipal, and license clerks | 44,610 |
| Information and record clerks, all other | 43,160 |
| Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks | 39,900 |
| Correspondence clerks | 37,920 |
| Order clerks | 37,920 |
| Interviewers, except eligibility and loan | 37,220 |
| File clerks | 36,360 |
| Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks | 28,080 |
In May 2021, the median annual wages for information clerks in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Federal government | $48,050 |
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 46,590 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 39,170 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 37,340 |
| Administrative and support services | 36,910 |
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.
Overall employment of information clerks is projected to show little or no change from 2021 to 2031.
Despite limited employment growth, about 173,100 openings for information clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Projected employment of information clerks varies by occupation (see table). Much of the projected employment growth for hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks and for reservation and transportation ticket agents is due to recovery from the COVID-19 recession of 2020 and is likely to occur early in the projections decade. The increased use of online ordering and reservation systems and self-service ticketing kiosks will limit demand for these workers.
Local governments will continue to need court, municipal, and license clerks to do tasks such as prepare case dockets, draft agendas, and issue permits. Eligibility interviewers will continue to be needed to determine whether government assistance, such as unemployment or Social Security benefits, is appropriate for people applying for it. However, the adoption of technology in data collection and document processing, which enables people to submit online responses and documents, will likely limit demand for interviewers and other clerks.
As organizations combine their administrative functions and continue to expand their use of technology, they will need fewer correspondence clerks, file clerks, order clerks, and human resources assistants. In addition, employment is projected to decline for interviewers, except eligibility and loan, as businesses and medical facilities continue to use online applications or platforms to streamline information collection or other intake processes.