How To Become A Customer Service Clerk: What It Is and Career Path

What is a customer service clerk and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

A customer service clerk interacts with customers to address their complaints and needs. They work in industries such as retail, hospitality, and healthcare. The responsibilities of a customer service clerk include resolving issues, processing orders and returns, providing product information, and maintaining customer databases. They also handle cash registers, manage inventory and collaborate with other departments to ensure customer satisfaction. Excellent communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and a friendly demeanor are essential to succeed in this role.

ScoreCustomer Service ClerkUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,566

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.9

Growth rate -4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

9.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.71%

Asian 6.40%

Black or African American 11.56%

Hispanic or Latino 22.31%

Unknown 5.32%

White 53.69%

Gender

female 66.98%

male 33.02%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

5.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.5

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a customer service clerk?

Pros

Ability to improve communication and problem-solving skills
Potential for bonuses or incentives based on performance
Exposure to different industries and sectors
Possibility of learning new software and technology
May be able to work remotely or from home

Cons

Dealing with difficult or irate customers can be stressful
Often requires sitting or standing for long periods
Possibility of experiencing burnout due to the high volume of interactions with customers
Can be challenging to balance customer needs with company policies and procedures
Reliance on technology can lead to technical difficulties or system failures causing delays or frustration for customers

Key steps to become a customer service clerk

Explore customer service clerk education requirements

Most common customer service clerk degrees

High School Diploma

31.9 %

Bachelor's

30.0 %

Associate

24.4 %

Start to develop specific customer service clerk skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	13.05%
Basic Math	12.26%
Front End	10.66%
Math	10.32%
Cash Handling	8.96%

Complete relevant customer service clerk training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New customer service clerks learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a customer service clerk based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real customer service clerk resumes.

Research customer service clerk duties and responsibilities

Manage cash balances and inventory stock accurately; ensure cleanliness of all work stations and guarantee excellent customer service.
Show excellence in providing customer service satisfaction by packing then delivering groceries to customers' vehicles.
Hone in on and strengthen problem solving, quick thinking, and math skills.
Support RSA authentication service for remote customer using VPN access, with RSA token.

Prepare your customer service clerk resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your customer service clerk resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a customer service clerk resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable customer service clerk resume templates

Build a professional customer service clerk resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your customer service clerk resume.