Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding customer needs and providing helpful, professional service.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Financial Clerk A high school diploma is sufficient for most financial clerk positions. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most financial clerk jobs. These workers typically learn their duties through on-the-job
Education
Financial clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Employers of brokerage clerks may prefer candidates who have taken some college courses in business or economics and, in some cases, have a 2- or 4-year college degree. Training Most financial clerks learn how to do their job duties through on-the-job training. Some formal technical training also may be necessary; for example, gambling cage workers may need training in specific gambling regulations and procedures. Advancement Financial clerks may advance to related occupations in finance. For example, a loan interviewer or clerk may become a loan officer, and a brokerage clerk may become a securities, commodities, and financial services sales agent, after obtaining the required education and license.
Training
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Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Overall employment of financial clerks is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline. About 88,000 openings for financial clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many 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 The availability of online tools, which allow financial customers to perform many tasks themselves, is expected to reduce demand for occupations such as new accounts clerks; procurement clerks; and credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks. Similarly, productivity-enhancing technology is expected to limit demand for other clerks, such as payroll and timekeeping clerks, loan interviewers and clerks, brokerage clerks, and insurance claims and policy processing clerks. Employment of gambling cage workers is expected to be impacted by the adoption of technology in payout processing and online gambling, which limits the need for cage workers. Employment of billing and posting clerks is expected to rise in fast-growing healthcare industries; however, automated invoice processing software will increase the productivity of these workers and reduce overall employment growth. Financial Clerks Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Total, all occupations 3% Financial clerks -4% Office and administrative support occupations -4% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Financial Clerks Do
Financial clerks do administrative work for many types of organizations. They keep records, help customers, and carry out transactions that involve money.
Duties
Financial clerks typically do the following:
- Keep and update financial records
- Calculate bills and charges
- Offer customer assistance
- Carry out financial transactions
Financial clerks’ job duties vary by specialty and by setting.
The following are examples of types of financial clerks:
Billing and posting clerks calculate charges and generate bills, which they then prepare to send to customers. They review documents such as purchase orders, sales tickets, charge slips, and hospital records to calculate fees or charges due. They also contact customers to get or give account information.
Brokerage clerks help with tasks associated with securities such as stocks, bonds, commodities, and other kinds of investments. Their duties include writing orders for stock purchases and sales, calculating transfer taxes, verifying stock transactions, accepting and delivering securities, distributing dividends, and recording daily transactions and holdings.
Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks review the credit history, and get the information needed to determine the creditworthiness, of individuals or businesses applying for credit. Credit authorizers check customers’ credit records and payment histories to decide, based on predetermined standards, whether to approve new credit. Credit checkers contact credit departments of business and service establishments for information about applicants’ credit standing.
Gambling cage workers work in casinos and other gambling establishments. The “cage” in which they work is the central depository for money and gambling chips. Gambling cage workers sell gambling chips, tokens, or tickets to patrons. They count funds and reconcile daily summaries of transactions to balance books.
Insurance claims and policy processing clerks process applications for insurance policies. They also handle customers’ requests to change or cancel their existing policies. Their duties include interviewing clients and reviewing insurance applications to make sure that all questions have been answered. They also inform insurance agents and accounting departments of policy cancellations or changes.
Loan interviewers, also called loan processors or loan clerks, interview applicants and others to get and verify personal and financial information needed to complete loan applications. They also prepare the documents that go to the appraiser and are issued at the closing of a loan.
New accounts clerks interview people who want to open accounts in financial institutions. They explain the account services available to prospective customers and help them fill out applications. They also investigate and correct errors in accounts.
Payroll and timekeeping clerks compile and post employee time and payroll data. They verify and record attendance, hours worked, and pay adjustments. They make sure that employees are paid on time and that their paychecks are correct.
Procurement clerks compile requests for materials, prepare purchase orders, keep track of purchases and supplies, and handle questions about orders. They respond to questions from customers and suppliers about the status of orders. Procurement clerks handle requests to change or cancel orders. They make sure that purchases arrive on schedule and that the items meet the buyer’s specifications.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Financial clerks held about 1.1 million jobs in 2025. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up financial clerks was distributed as follows:
| Billing and posting clerks | 418,000 |
| Insurance claims and policy processing clerks | 239,100 |
| Loan interviewers and clerks | 169,100 |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerks | 159,600 |
| Procurement clerks | 56,900 |
| New accounts clerks | 37,900 |
| Brokerage clerks | 36,900 |
| Gambling cage workers | 15,000 |
| Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks | 12,200 |
The largest employers of financial clerks were as follows:
| Insurance carriers and related activities | 19% |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 18 |
| Credit intermediation and related activities | 16 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 9 |
| Administrative and support services | 6 |
Financial clerks work in a variety of industries, usually in offices.
Injuries and Illnesses
Gambling cage workers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries may occur due to incidents such as slips, falls, and overexertion. Workers reduce the risk of injury by following safety procedures and practices, such as wearing shoes with slip-resistant soles.
Work Schedules
Most financial clerks work full time.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Financial clerks should be able to explain policies and procedures to colleagues and customers. Math skills. The job duties of financial clerks includes calculating charges and updating financial records. Organizational skills. Financial clerks must be able to arrange files so they can find them quickly and efficiently.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about financial clerks by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.