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The differences between clerks and support clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clerk and a support clerk. Additionally, a support clerk has an average salary of $35,159, which is higher than the $31,163 average annual salary of a clerk.
The top three skills for a clerk include basic math, math and data entry. The most important skills for a support clerk are customer service, data entry, and patients.
| Clerk | Support Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $31,163 | $35,159 |
| Hourly rate | $14.98 | $16.90 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 80,311 | 163,168 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
A support clerk is primarily in charge of performing administrative support tasks in an office, making the daily workflow easier. Their responsibilities typically include preparing and processing documentation, answering and forwarding calls, handling correspondence, disseminating and organizing files, and running errands as needed. They may also update databases, maintaining records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a support clerk, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating to ensure efficient and smooth workplace operations.
Clerks and support clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clerk | Support Clerk | |
| Average salary | $31,163 | $35,159 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $22,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | University of Massachusetts Boston | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a clerk and a support clerk in terms of educational background:
| Clerk | Support Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between clerks' and support clerks' demographics:
| Clerk | Support Clerk | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 8.4% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |