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The differences between desk clerks and data clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a data clerk has an average salary of $31,550, which is higher than the $29,096 average annual salary of a desk clerk.
The top three skills for a desk clerk include reservations, front desk and customer service. The most important skills for a data clerk are database systems, computer entry, and office equipment.
| Desk Clerk | Data Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $29,096 | $31,550 |
| Hourly rate | $13.99 | $15.17 |
| Growth rate | - | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 113,183 | 147,935 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 37 | 47 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
The desk clerk or general office clerk is an employee who works with little supervision from the manager. The duties and responsibilities of desk clerks vary depending on the industry they belong to. These may include but are not limited to answering phone calls, electronic correspondence, filing paperwork, taking and maintaining inventory levels, and setting calendars and schedules. They are expected to always offer excellent customer service. In hotels, they check-in and check-out their guests.
A data clerk is responsible for performing administrative support tasks, mainly focusing on data-entry. Their responsibilities typically include updating databases, maintaining records on spreadsheets and other documents, preparing and processing files, creating and organizing reports, coordinating with different departments to gather or disseminate data, and performing research and analysis. They may also handle calls and correspondence, monitor schedules and office supply inventory, and complete support tasks for staff as necessary. Furthermore, as a data clerk, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with teams and adhere to the company's data security policies and regulations.
Desk clerks and data clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Desk Clerk | Data Clerk | |
| Average salary | $29,096 | $31,550 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $36,000 | Between $25,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Deborah's Place | Armstrong Flooring |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a desk clerk and a data clerk in terms of educational background:
| Desk Clerk | Data Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between desk clerks' and data clerks' demographics:
| Desk Clerk | Data Clerk | |
| Average age | 37 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0% | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 10.0% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.9% Asian, 7.6% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 6% |