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Careers›Roles›Telephone Clerk
Mid-Level

Telephone Clerk

A Telephone Clerk typically handles inbound and outbound calls in a clerical support role — taking orders, answering questions, processing requests, and capturing detail across each interaction.

Telephone Clerk pay typically runs $33K–$44K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to hold roughly steady through 2034.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
S
I
R
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Telephone Clerks
Healthcare · 47%Consumer Services · 11%Professional Services · 11%Entertainment & Media · 6%Retail · 4%Administrative Services · 4%
Job markets for Telephone Clerks
Where Telephone Clerk jobs concentrate · ~393 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Admin & Office
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers

While you’re learning about the Telephone Clerk role, anything we can help you with this week?

What it's like

What it's like to be a Telephone Clerk

Daily rhythm involves inbound calls, system entry, and brief follow-up coordination. You'll often work from scripts or procedures, with accuracy on details — names, addresses, order specs — being central. Pacing tends to be high-volume and steady.

The detail discipline under volume can surprise newcomers — small errors compound across many calls. Coordination with back-office processing teams is constant. Vocal stamina and friendly composure matter as much as accuracy.

People who thrive here typically have clear voices, steady warmth, and comfort with structured procedures. The temperament to handle repetitive interactions while staying accurate and friendly usually predicts who lasts in the role.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
AchievementLower
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

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Career Paths

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

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Energy & Utilities$84K+67%
Professional Services$83K+64%
Technology & Information$79K+58%
Financial Services$77K+53%
Government$69K+37%
Compared to Admin & Office average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Telephone Clerks (SOC 43-4171.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Admin & Office →
Telephone ClerkTelephone AnswererResearch ClerkCall TakerRegistration ClerkBilingual ReceptionistPolicyholder Information Clerk (Policyholder Info Clerk)People GreeterTelephone Operator ReceptionistTelephone Quotation ClerkFront Desk OfficerReceptionistCall Center OperatorLand Leasing ExaminerFront Desk ClerkReferral and Information Aide (Referral and Info Aide)Space SchedulerAppointment SetterFront Desk AssociateDental ReceptionistSchedule AnnouncerMedical Office ReceptionistTelephone Appointment ClerkOffice AssistantRegister Clerk+1 more

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✦ Editorial — 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 — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$28K–$49K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
965K
U.S. Employment
0%
10yr Growth
129K
Annual Openings

How Telephone Clerk pay & employment are changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningService OrientationReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessWritingCoordinationTime ManagementMonitoring
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
43-4171.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midTelephone Answerer$37KmidResearch Clerk$37KmidCall Taker$44KmidRegistration Clerk$39KmidBilingual Receptionist$37KmidPolicyholder Information Clerk (Policyholder Info Clerk)$37K
View all Admin & Office roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Telephone Clerk

What does a Telephone Clerk do?

A Telephone Clerk typically handles inbound and outbound calls in a clerical support role — taking orders, answering questions, processing requests, and capturing detail across each interaction.

How much does a Telephone Clerk make?

Median pay for a Telephone Clerk is about $37K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $28K to $49K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Telephone Clerk need?

Core skills for this role include Speaking, Active Listening, Service Orientation, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Thinking.

What education do you need to be a Telephone Clerk?

Most people in this role hold a high school diploma.

Is a Telephone Clerk in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 0% through 2034, with roughly 964,530 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Telephone Clerk?

Closely related roles include Telephone Answerer, Research Clerk, and Call Taker.

Career advice

Telephone Clerk career advice

Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.

  • Simple exerciseGive quick, specific thanks to someone who helped you recently.Say what worked
  • Simple exerciseSee what the job you already have is telling you about what you want.Notice what you love, hate and wish for at work
  • Simple exerciseLook at the steps up and sideways from your job, and find one you'd be excited to do.Walk the roles next to yours
  • WorksheetCheck whether a counteroffer would change what sent you looking, not just the pay.Weigh a counteroffer against why you looked

Swipe for more

More career advice

  • Weigh whether to stay or go
  • Find the people who could open a door
  • Resign without burning a bridge
  • Ask before you advise
  • Keep a done list
  • Say you're running on empty, and ask for advice
  • Ask how your manager likes to work
  • Learn what the next level expects

We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.

Browse career advice

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Take the wheel.

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

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Take the wheel.

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