Correspondence Clerks
SOC code 43-4021 · O*NET-SOC 43-4021.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Correspondence Clerks pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$46,800
a year
Hourly
$22.50
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$48,090
$23.12 per hour
Middle 50%
$38,610 – $56,090
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$33,300 – $64,510
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
4,290
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $33,300
- $16.01/hr
- 25th percentile
- $38,610
- $18.56/hr
- Median percentile
- $46,800
- $22.50/hr
- 75th percentile
- $56,090
- $26.97/hr
- 90th percentile
- $64,510
- $31.02/hr
What does a correspondence clerk do?
Compose letters or electronic correspondence in reply to requests for merchandise, damage claims, credit and other information, delinquent accounts, incorrect billings, or unsatisfactory services. Duties may include gathering data to formulate reply and preparing correspondence.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Ensure that money collected is properly recorded and secured.
- Maintain files and control records to show correspondence activities.
- Read incoming correspondence to ascertain nature of writers' concerns and to determine disposition of correspondence.
- Gather records pertinent to specific problems, review them for completeness and accuracy, and attach records to correspondence as necessary.
- Prepare documents and correspondence, such as damage claims, credit and billing inquiries, invoices, and service complaints.
- Process orders for goods requested in correspondence.
- Compile data from records to prepare periodic reports.
- Compose letters in reply to correspondence concerning such items as requests for merchandise, damage claims, credit information requests, delinquent accounts, incorrect billing, or unsatisfactory service.
How to become a correspondence clerk
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 43% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)43%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree28%
- Some College Courses17%
- Bachelor's Degree12%
Common questions
How much does a correspondence clerk earn?
The national median is $46,800 a year. The full range runs from $33,300 at the 10th percentile to $64,510 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a correspondence clerk without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Writing4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Speaking3.5/5
- Critical Thinking3.4/5
- Monitoring2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Administrative4.4/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Economics and Accounting3.6/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Administration and Management2.9/5
- Public Safety and Security2.8/5
Transferable strengths: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Time Management.