Correspondence clerks salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,300 | $16.01 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Mean (average) | $48,090 | $23.12 |
| 90th percentile | $64,510 | $31.02 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Correspondence clerks pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 28 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $39,900 | $31,400 | $59,680 | 110 | 1.24 |
| California | $53,640 | $37,130 | $81,070 | 240 | 0.47 |
| Colorado | $45,510 | $32,560 | $66,150 | 50 | 0.59 |
| Connecticut | $61,310 | $42,840 | $64,510 | 70 | 1.52 |
| Florida | Data unavailable | 350 | 1.27 | ||
| Georgia | Data unavailable | 150 | 1.14 | ||
| Idaho | $51,010 | $46,380 | $55,490 | 40 | 1.64 |
| Illinois | $46,280 | $39,090 | $71,840 | 50 | 0.29 |
| Indiana | $49,710 | $32,130 | $58,740 | 70 | 0.84 |
| Louisiana | $36,790 | $31,930 | $51,210 | 60 | 1.09 |
| Maine | $49,180 | $40,260 | $57,840 | 40 | 2.47 |
| Michigan | $40,780 | $33,850 | $56,600 | 40 | 0.34 |
| Missouri | $43,400 | $34,260 | $46,240 | 70 | 0.9 |
| Nebraska | $49,800 | $39,270 | $49,800 | 60 | 1.98 |
| Nevada | $47,820 | $40,650 | $61,030 | 130 | 3.12 |
| New Hampshire | $49,730 | $34,380 | $60,070 | 120 | 6.28 |
| New Jersey | $48,510 | $32,220 | $63,470 | 40 | 0.31 |
| New York | $49,360 | $37,840 | $66,800 | 540 | 2.02 |
| North Carolina | $42,340 | $40,400 | $62,640 | 50 | 0.35 |
| Ohio | $49,700 | $35,650 | $58,020 | 40 | 0.25 |
| Oregon | $61,160 | $49,660 | $75,490 | 110 | 2.07 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,270 | $35,630 | $58,610 | 140 | 0.81 |
| South Carolina | $41,710 | $37,310 | $52,480 | 130 | 2.1 |
| Tennessee | $42,390 | $35,100 | $50,280 | 100 | 1.15 |
| Texas | $48,860 | $36,850 | $66,620 | 830 | 2.14 |
| Utah | $47,450 | $37,460 | $51,490 | 140 | 2.86 |
| Virginia | $48,310 | $30,640 | $48,310 | ||
| Wisconsin | $47,400 | $29,780 | $67,130 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for correspondence clerks
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 4.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for correspondence clerks
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services CIP 52.0408
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- Route correspondence to other departments for reply.
Technology skills
- Epic Systems (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Electronic data interchange EDI software
- Electronic health record EHR software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Imaging software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Time Management, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Chargeback Specialist, Claims Correspondence Clerk, Correspondence Clerk, Correspondence Coordinator, Correspondence Representative (Correspondence Rep), Correspondent, Dispute Resolution Analyst, Dispute Specialist, Office Technician (Office Tech), Technical Clerk.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do correspondence clerks make?
The national median annual wage for correspondence clerks was $46,800 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,300 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $64,510. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do correspondence clerks need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is correspondence clerks a growing career?
BLS projects employment of correspondence clerks to change -5.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay correspondence clerks the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Connecticut ($61,310), Oregon ($61,160), California ($53,640). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.