New Accounts Clerks
SOC code 43-4141 · O*NET-SOC 43-4141.00 · Medium preparation needed · Office and administration
New Accounts Clerks pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$47,670
a year
Hourly
$22.92
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$49,370
$23.73 per hour
Middle 50%
$43,920 – $55,100
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$38,180 – $60,910
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
36,860
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $38,180
- $18.36/hr
- 25th percentile
- $43,920
- $21.12/hr
- Median percentile
- $47,670
- $22.92/hr
- 75th percentile
- $55,100
- $26.49/hr
- 90th percentile
- $60,910
- $29.29/hr
What does a new accounts clerk do?
Interview persons desiring to open accounts in financial institutions. Explain account services available to prospective customers and assist them in preparing applications.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Perform teller duties as required.
- Process loan applications.
- Compile information about new accounts, enter account information into computers, and file related forms or other documents.
- Collect and record customer deposits and fees and issue receipts, using computers.
- Inform customers of procedures for applying for services, such as ATM cards, direct deposit of checks, and certificates of deposit.
- Answer customers' questions and explain available services, such as deposit accounts, bonds, and securities.
- Obtain credit records from reporting agencies.
- Interview customers to obtain information needed for opening accounts or renting safe-deposit boxes.
How to become a new accounts clerk
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 46% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)46%
- Some College Courses28%
- Post-Secondary Certificate15%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree11%
Common questions
How much does a new accounts clerk earn?
The national median is $47,670 a year. The full range runs from $38,180 at the 10th percentile to $60,910 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 new accounts clerk without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.5/5
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Writing3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.8/5
- Sales and Marketing4.4/5
- Administrative4.1/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Computers and Electronics3.5/5
- Mathematics3.5/5
- Economics and Accounting3.3/5
- Public Safety and Security3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion.