Mid-Level

Grading Clerk

Grading clerks grade paperwork or specimens โ€” applying classification systems, recording results, and processing the documentation each item generates.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
S
E
R
I
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Socialhelping, teaching
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Grading Clerks
Employment concentration ยท ~390 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Grading Clerk

Workdays involve steady classification work โ€” examining items, applying grading criteria, and recording outcomes. The work tends to require focus and consistency. Most graders develop their own pacing and break habits to keep accuracy steady through a full shift, because attention degrades faster than people realize.

Collaboration is usually light but you'll work with upstream and downstream teams when something doesn't fit standard categories. What's harder than expected is maintaining consistency across many items over a full day โ€” drift creeps in, and the same item examined in the morning may get graded differently in the afternoon.

People who thrive tend to be methodical, careful, and content with focused solo work. If you find satisfaction in accurate evaluation, the role often fits. People who need social interaction or fast feedback usually find the role too still โ€” but for those who can settle into the work, the consistency requirement is its own quiet challenge.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
โœฆ Editorial โ€” written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape โ€” and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Grading Clerks (SOC 25-9042.00, 43-9061.00), not just this title ยท BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Also appears in: Education
Exploring the Grading Clerk career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit โ€” and plan your path forward.
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โœฆ Editorial โ€” career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape โ€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$29Kโ€“$64K
Salary Range
10th โ€“ 90th percentile
2.5M
U.S. Employment
-6.7%
10yr Growth
282K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionSpeakingSpeakingService OrientationCoordinationMonitoring
O*NET OnLine ยท Bureau of Labor Statistics
25-9042.0043-9061.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS Employment Projections ยท O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.