Best Jobs For Former Clerks [2026]

For many former clerks, transitioning to a new career can be daunting, especially as the landscape of job opportunities continues to evolve in 2026. Although the number of individuals pursuing clerk-related studies remains stable, the application rates for clerical positions have declined, prompting many to seek alternative career paths.

With a significant number of clerks leaving the profession, a pressing question arises:

What careers are they pursuing now?

To explore this, we analyzed the resumes of former clerks to identify the jobs they transitioned into after leaving their roles. Given the wealth of data, we focused on the top 100 positions that emerged from our research.

Among the findings are some surprising and intriguing career shifts that deserve attention.

Top Career Opportunities for Former Clerks

While the appeal of these positions varies, they all represent viable options for former clerks exploring new career avenues.

Below is the complete list of those jobs.

Comprehensive Ranking of Common Careers for Former Clerks

Rank	Job Title	%
1	Customer Service Representative	3.65%
2	Administrative Assistant	2.69%
3	Sales Associate	1.88%
4	Cashier	1.77%
5	Assistant Manager	1.0%
6	Internship	0.93%
7	Office Manager	0.83%
8	Receptionist	0.73%
9	Volunteer	0.73%
10	Substitute Teacher	0.69%
11	Server	0.65%
12	Manager	0.62%
13	Office Assistant	0.62%
14	Associate	0.57%
15	Teacher	0.48%
16	Billing Specialist	0.48%
17	Supervisor	0.46%
18	Security Officer	0.46%
19	Secretary	0.45%
20	Sales Representative	0.45%
21	Customer Service Trainer	0.45%
22	Machine Operator	0.41%
23	Pharmacist Technician	0.4%
24	Accounts Payable Clerk	0.4%
25	Teller	0.39%
26	Data Entry Clerk	0.36%
27	Certified Nursing Assistant	0.36%
28	Team Leader	0.36%
29	Specialist	0.36%
30	Legal Assistant	0.35%
31	Crew Member	0.34%
32	Assistant	0.33%
33	Owner	0.31%
34	Medical Assistant	0.31%
35	Home Health Aid	0.3%
36	Attorney	0.3%
37	Human Resources Coordinator	0.29%
38	Technician	0.29%
39	Warehouse Associate	0.29%
40	Store Manager	0.27%
41	Data Entry Associate	0.27%
42	Material Handler	0.25%
43	Driver	0.24%
44	Accounting Clerk	0.24%
45	Cook	0.24%
46	Warehouse Worker	0.23%
47	Coordinator	0.23%
48	Paralegal	0.23%
49	Mail Clerk	0.23%
50	Processor	0.22%
51	Medical Records Clerk	0.21%
52	Merchandiser	0.2%
53	Agent	0.2%
54	Case Manager	0.2%
55	Barista	0.2%
56	Customer Service Associate	0.2%
57	Law Clerk	0.19%
58	Research Assistant	0.19%
59	Office Clerk	0.19%
60	Analyst	0.19%
61	Registered Nurse	0.19%
62	Data Analyst	0.19%
63	Front Desk Receptionist	0.19%
64	Teacher Assistant	0.19%
65	Accountant	0.18%
66	Operations Manager	0.18%
67	Claim Processor	0.18%
68	Service Representative	0.17%
69	Package Handler	0.17%
70	Unit Secretary	0.17%
71	Delivery Driver	0.17%
72	Shift Supervisor	0.16%
73	Tutor	0.16%
74	Administrator	0.16%
75	Human Resources Assistant	0.16%
76	Ship Worker	0.16%
77	Operator	0.16%
78	Office Administrator	0.16%
79	Executive Assistant	0.16%
80	Associate Attorney	0.15%
81	Consultant	0.15%
82	Call Center Representative	0.15%
83	Licensed Practical Nurse	0.15%
84	Assembler	0.15%
85	Security Guard	0.15%
86	Account Manager	0.15%
87	Stock Clerk	0.15%
88	Support Specialist	0.15%
89	Owner/operator	0.15%
90	Forklift Operator	0.15%
91	Assistant Store Manager	0.13%
92	Sales Person	0.13%
93	Property Manager	0.13%
94	Housekeeper	0.13%
95	Accounting Assistant	0.13%
96	Technical Support Specialist	0.13%
97	Graphic Designer	0.13%
98	Project Manager	0.13%
99	Account Executive	0.13%
100	Program Assistant	0.13%

Common Career Paths for Former Clerks

These roles not only leverage skills acquired as clerks but also serve as stepping stones for further career advancement.

Methodology for Identifying Top Jobs for Former Clerks

Our analysis utilized resume data from over 7 million profiles to identify individuals with clerk experience. We examined the subsequent roles they pursued, sorting them by frequency to generate our initial list.

To highlight the most unique career options, we filtered our ranked list based on two criteria:

Positions appearing in fewer than 1% of all new job listings
Jobs not included in the top 100 most common roles identified in our research

In summary, the job market for former clerks is diverse and evolving. By understanding the most common and interesting career paths, former clerks can confidently explore new opportunities and find fulfilling careers.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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