How to hire a customer service clerk

How to hire a customer service clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step customer service clerk hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a customer service clerk job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new customer service clerk
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a customer service clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your customer service clerk job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a customer service clerk for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a customer service clerk to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a customer service clerk that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of customer service clerk salaries for various roles:

   Type of Customer Service Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Customer Service Clerk	Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization’s products and services.	$12-20
   Receptionist/Customer Service	Receptionists or customer service professionals are considered as the first contact point of the clients. They usually greet and welcome guests visiting an office or organization... Show more	$12-17
   Customer Service Administrator	Customer service administrators supervise people in performing customer service and relations. They manage customer inquiries and oversee customer service representative needs and requirements... Show more	$13-21

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Basic Math
   • Front End
   • Math
   • Cash Handling
   • Customer Inquiries
   • Customer Returns
   • Customer Transactions
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Customer Complaints
   • Customer Interaction
   • Store Merchandise
   • Computer System
   • Lottery Tickets

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Help clients identify and resolve issues pertaining, but not limit to, VPN configuration, web hosting and domain registration.
   • Operate cash register, processing transactions with cash, credit card, debit, check, food stamp and WIC coupons.

   More customer service clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your customer service clerk job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A customer service clerk salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, customer service clerks' average salary in florida is 41% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level customer service clerks earn 38% less than senior-level customer service clerks.
   • Certifications. A customer service clerk with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a customer service clerk's salary.

   Average customer service clerk salary

   $16.14hourly

   $33,566 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level customer service clerk salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average customer service clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Alaska	$42,059	$20
   2	Rhode Island	$36,829	$18
   3	Connecticut	$36,771	$18
   4	Minnesota	$35,582	$17
   5	Iowa	$35,114	$17
   6	Wisconsin	$34,586	$17
   7	Montana	$34,419	$17
   8	Delaware	$34,340	$17
   9	South Dakota	$34,298	$16
   10	New York	$34,073	$16
   11	Nebraska	$33,752	$16
   12	Illinois	$33,741	$16
   13	Nevada	$33,612	$16
   14	Maryland	$33,359	$16
   15	Idaho	$32,669	$16
   16	Utah	$32,588	$16
   17	Ohio	$32,064	$15
   18	California	$32,055	$15
   19	Pennsylvania	$31,507	$15
   20	Tennessee	$31,197	$15

   Average customer service clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	United States Courts	$40,558	$19.50	70
   2	Michigan State University	$40,060	$19.26	1
   3	International Paper	$38,524	$18.52	8
   4	Rivian	$38,426	$18.47	13
   5	Martin Marietta	$38,404	$18.46	2
   6	BNP Paribas	$38,302	$18.41
   7	R+L Carriers	$38,153	$18.34	20
   8	Raytheon Technologies	$37,758	$18.15	3
   9	Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.	$37,725	$18.14
   10	Estes Express Lines	$37,476	$18.02	16
   11	Koch Industries	$37,332	$17.95
   12	Menzies Aviation	$37,143	$17.86	13
   13	Levi Strauss & Co.	$36,818	$17.70
   14	City of Houston	$36,467	$17.53	2
   15	CVS Health	$36,015	$17.31	2,938
   16	Office Depot	$35,904	$17.26	284
   17	ICONMA	$35,236	$16.94
   18	Barron's	$35,188	$16.92	2
   19	Sysco	$35,125	$16.89	99
   20	BCforward	$35,056	$16.85	53

4. Writing a customer service clerk job description

   A customer service clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a customer service clerk job description:

   Customer service clerk job description example

   Hiring Immediately: Full-time Customer Service Clerk in Buffalo, NY
   
   Join the nation’s largest, privately-owned freight carrier as a Customer Service Clerk. Based in the fast-paced environment of our Denver, CO terminal, this role provides customer service support and shipping assistance. Other duties include administrative tasks such as filing, data entry, and scanning documents.
   This position is a Daytime Shift. We're looking for someone with great customer service and multi-tasking skills who is friendly, reliable, and willing to learn. Pay & Benefits for Part-Time Customer Care Clerks: Starting hourly rate of $17.45 and rates up to $19.70 Qualifications Summary: Previous experience in the LTL industry is a plus but not required Proficiency in MS Word and Excel (AS400 experience preferred) Excellent verbal and written communication skills Strong work ethic and good problem-solving skills Capable of working under tight time constraints in a high volume environment with multiple priorities Estes values a diverse workforce and affirmatively promotes a company culture that embraces the concept that outcomes are improved when our workforce is made up of people with different viewpoints. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. Come find your new career at Work4Estes.com! Applications are accepted online only through this website . If you need an accommodation to apply, call the number on the website. By submitting your information, you acknowledge that you have read our privacy policy available at www.estes-express.com/privacy-policy, and consent to receive communications from Estes Express Lines, including but not limited to email and SMS messaging. Message and data rates may apply. Location: Denver, Colorado Company DescriptionAt Estes Express Lines, we’ve long recognized the importance of our behind-the-wheel professionals. In fact, we were founded in 1931—in the midst of the Great Depression—as a one-man-one-truck operation. Today, Estes is the largest, privately held less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier in North America, with an employee base of more than 16,000 professionals and an increasingly newer fleet of nearly 7,100 tractors.
   
   Over the last 85 years, our network has grown to more than 200 terminals plus coverage in all 50 states, the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico.
   
   Why Choose Estes?
   As an Estes driver, you can expect:
   
   • Family-Friendly Schedules
   • Competitive Pay and Incentives
   • Comprehensive Benefits
   • New Model Trucks with the Latest Safety Technology
   • Training Opportunities for Career Growth
   • Company Stability with over 200 Terminal Locations
   
   Our mission at Estes is to deliver solutions that exceed our customers’ highest expectations. That’s why we believe in hiring and retaining the best talent. We’re looking for a variety of professionals—from mechanics, drivers, office personnel to dockworkers—to join our team.
   
   For information about our career opportunities, please visit www.work4estes.com.
   EOE/Vets/Disabled

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find customer service clerks for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your customer service clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit customer service clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit customer service clerks, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new customer service clerk

   Once you've decided on a perfect customer service clerk candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a customer service clerk?