Counter and rental clerks salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,800 | $14.33 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $41,300 | $19.86 |
| Mean (average) | $45,700 | $21.97 |
| 90th percentile | $65,370 | $31.43 |
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
Counter and rental clerks pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,170 | $23,590 | $48,750 | 8,010 | 1.47 |
| Alaska | $43,450 | $35,490 | $62,400 | 660 | 0.78 |
| Arizona | $43,920 | $35,980 | $72,690 | 11,080 | 1.33 |
| Arkansas | $34,940 | $26,470 | $59,700 | 3,560 | 1.06 |
| California | $45,010 | $35,790 | $69,800 | 67,770 | 1.44 |
| Colorado | $46,240 | $35,290 | $75,300 | 13,900 | 1.88 |
| Connecticut | $39,490 | $35,120 | $65,950 | 3,060 | 0.7 |
| Delaware | $38,600 | $31,200 | $59,350 | 870 | 0.7 |
| District of Columbia | $53,760 | $45,160 | $62,500 | 480 | 0.26 |
| Florida | $37,870 | $28,770 | $60,810 | 27,160 | 1.06 |
| Georgia | $38,590 | $28,650 | $62,400 | 11,490 | 0.91 |
| Guam | $23,600 | $21,340 | $31,200 | 200 | 1.18 |
| Hawaii | $44,420 | $34,490 | $62,410 | 1,700 | 1.05 |
| Idaho | $39,370 | $28,010 | $68,100 | 2,070 | 0.94 |
| Illinois | $38,140 | $31,870 | $63,500 | 8,440 | 0.54 |
| Indiana | $36,680 | $24,620 | $55,950 | 7,990 | 0.97 |
| Iowa | $38,960 | $31,820 | $58,490 | 1,900 | 0.47 |
| Kansas | $39,090 | $28,280 | $78,380 | 2,990 | 0.81 |
| Kentucky | $38,990 | $27,040 | $61,200 | 2,960 | 0.57 |
| Louisiana | $34,910 | $22,020 | $52,610 | 3,740 | 0.75 |
| Maine | $46,870 | $34,820 | $60,610 | 1,180 | 0.71 |
| Maryland | $39,490 | $33,080 | $71,730 | 4,060 | 0.57 |
| Massachusetts | $44,070 | $35,220 | $64,410 | 8,220 | 0.88 |
| Michigan | $39,350 | $30,020 | $61,740 | 13,410 | 1.18 |
| Minnesota | $44,850 | $30,630 | $67,050 | 4,710 | 0.62 |
| Mississippi | $36,160 | $23,560 | $56,400 | 2,820 | 0.94 |
| Missouri | $37,920 | $29,580 | $63,540 | 4,880 | 0.64 |
| Montana | $43,900 | $33,520 | $60,310 | 1,490 | 1.13 |
| Nebraska | $36,450 | $28,080 | $50,690 | 3,960 | 1.5 |
| Nevada | $39,140 | $30,100 | $57,910 | 2,460 | 0.61 |
| New Hampshire | $47,250 | $33,270 | $77,660 | 1,590 | 0.9 |
| New Jersey | $48,900 | $35,540 | $75,520 | 9,540 | 0.86 |
| New Mexico | $35,580 | $27,940 | $57,030 | 2,360 | 1.05 |
| New York | $46,270 | $35,190 | $73,530 | 18,320 | 0.73 |
| North Carolina | $38,230 | $27,110 | $64,070 | 17,580 | 1.38 |
| North Dakota | $44,620 | $28,690 | $73,680 | 1,460 | 1.32 |
| Ohio | $38,590 | $24,140 | $75,970 | 9,400 | 0.66 |
| Oklahoma | $37,160 | $23,800 | $61,880 | 3,920 | 0.89 |
| Oregon | $43,820 | $34,860 | $78,070 | 5,450 | 1.07 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,910 | $26,520 | $61,760 | 10,780 | 0.69 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,110 | $21,840 | $36,710 | 1,680 | 0.69 |
| Rhode Island | $46,360 | $35,270 | $64,900 | 840 | 0.65 |
| South Carolina | $37,340 | $25,730 | $54,460 | 6,280 | 1.06 |
| South Dakota | $36,400 | $26,190 | $48,850 | 690 | 0.58 |
| Tennessee | $37,960 | $28,110 | $57,760 | 7,640 | 0.9 |
| Texas | $37,250 | $27,430 | $60,390 | 36,600 | 1.01 |
| Utah | $37,550 | $24,290 | $61,840 | 3,280 | 0.73 |
| Vermont | $48,430 | $37,000 | $76,180 | 750 | 0.96 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,560 | $28,580 | $60,320 | 140 | 1.64 |
| Virginia | $45,540 | $31,340 | $74,890 | 12,910 | 1.22 |
| Washington | $47,820 | $37,670 | $73,970 | 14,600 | 1.59 |
| West Virginia | $34,780 | $22,580 | $48,140 | 2,300 | 1.27 |
| Wisconsin | $45,720 | $30,900 | $73,470 | 6,600 | 0.87 |
| Wyoming | $43,860 | $30,050 | $61,640 | 900 | 1.24 |
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 counter and rental clerks
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 46,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.3%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for counter and rental clerks
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- 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
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.
- Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.
- Explain rental fees, policies, and procedures.
- Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.
- Advise customers on use and care of merchandise.
- Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.
- Answer telephones to provide information and receive orders.
- Inspect and adjust rental items to meet needs of customer.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Database software
- Inventory management systems
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Time Management, Persuasion, Negotiation.
Common job titles: Counter Clerk, Counter Service Representative, Leasing Consultant, Rental Agent, Rental Assistant, Rental Associate, Rental Clerk, Rental Counter Clerk, Rental Sales Representative, Video 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 counter and rental clerks make?
The national median annual wage for counter and rental clerks was $41,300 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,800 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $65,370. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do counter and rental clerks need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential 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 counter and rental clerks a growing career?
BLS projects employment of counter and rental clerks to change +3.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 46,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay counter and rental clerks the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($53,760), New Jersey ($48,900), Vermont ($48,430). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.