How to hire an operations clerk

How to hire an operations clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step operations clerk hiring guide:

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

What does an operations clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The operations clerk hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   An operations clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, operations clerks from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

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

   Type of Operations Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Operations Clerk	General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.	$12-19
   Clerk Typist	A clerk typist is responsible for data entry procedures and document transcriptions, alongside other clerical and administrative duties as required by the employer. Clerk typists create reports and presentation materials, transcribe audio meetings, write business drafts, and send documents to appropriate office personnel or clients... Show more	$12-18
   Clerk	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... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry Functions
   • Computer System
   • Payroll
   • Office Equipment
   • Provide Clerical Support
   • Word Processing
   • Quality Standards
   • Financial Data
   • Clerical Support
   • Administrative Tasks
   • Telephone Calls
   • HR
   • Customer Inquiries

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
   • Input global notes in CRT.
   • Retrieve documents to be send to the IRS.
   • Encode checks with 10 key hardware TRP or NCR machines.
   • Register patients in the HMS system.
   • Research case law using Internet and Westlaw software.

   More operations clerk duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, operations clerks' average salary in alabama is 51% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level operations clerks earn 34% less than senior-level operations clerks.
   • Certifications. An operations 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 an operations clerk's salary.

   Average operations clerk salary

   $16.22hourly

   $33,746 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level operations clerk salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average operations clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$43,995	$21
   2	California	$38,765	$19
   3	Washington	$36,754	$18
   4	Colorado	$36,474	$18
   5	Arizona	$35,835	$17
   6	Pennsylvania	$34,310	$17
   7	Oregon	$34,233	$16
   8	Minnesota	$34,076	$16
   9	Illinois	$33,874	$16
   10	Utah	$31,936	$15
   11	Texas	$31,701	$15
   12	Iowa	$31,614	$15
   13	Ohio	$31,149	$15
   14	North Carolina	$30,784	$15
   15	Nebraska	$30,232	$15
   16	Florida	$27,815	$13
   17	Tennessee	$27,591	$13
   18	Georgia	$27,426	$13
   19	West Virginia	$26,901	$13
   20	South Dakota	$26,414	$13

   Average operations clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Ncar - The National Center For Atmospheric Research	$46,304	$22.26
   2	National Grid plc	$41,313	$19.86
   3	United States Courts	$39,560	$19.02	63
   4	Rich Products	$39,307	$18.90	2
   5	UPS	$38,639	$18.58	7
   6	United Natural Foods	$38,382	$18.45	23
   7	BlueScope Steel	$38,240	$18.38	2
   8	Eversource Energy	$37,919	$18.23	10
   9	DeWitt LLP Law Firm	$37,747	$18.15
   10	Omaha Public Power District	$37,703	$18.13
   11	UMass Lowell	$37,465	$18.01
   12	Federal Reserve Bank	$37,123	$17.85	6
   13	Hackensack Meridian Health	$36,733	$17.66	12
   14	Golden State Foods	$36,632	$17.61
   15	Waste Connections	$36,551	$17.57	11
   16	US Foods	$36,340	$17.47	40
   17	Kinder Morgan	$36,190	$17.40	20
   18	Herr Foods	$35,935	$17.28
   19	Foster Farms	$35,767	$17.20	4
   20	LSC Communications	$35,725	$17.18

4. Writing an operations clerk job description

   A good operations clerk job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an operations clerk job description:

   Operations clerk job description example

   The operations clerk will provide support to the Claims and Enrollment departments' management and staff. The person in this role will have the responsibility to organize, coordinate and keep accurate records of incoming and outgoing mail for assigned departments. Compiles and prepares spreadsheets and reports for management. Assists other departments as needed.
   
   1. Opens, sorts and stamps U.S. and interdepartmental mail according to established applicable department guidelines.
   
   2. Screens member submitted and high priority claims for completeness, data enters into claims system, and/or scans claims to the vendor. Reviews and investigates 2nd submissions (tracers), late charges, balance due statements and cash receipts according to established guidelines. Batches claims for entry.
   
   3. Screens and documents enrollment applications by line of business according to established guidelines.
   
   4. Performs various support duties for the applicable department, e.g. types letters, memos, reports, creates spreadsheets and graphs using computer software, answers telephones, scanning, photocopying and faxing
   
   5. Coordinates and maintains calendars for the applicable department. Maintains various department files. Coordinates special projects as needed
   6. Maintains various department files. 7. Prepares weekly and monthly statistical reports. Creates and maintains various internal forms 8. Responds to requests for information for the applicable department. 9. Orders necessary special supplies for the applicable department, e.g. letterhead, envelopes, special forms, etc. 10. Performs other duties as assigned Skills: Data entry, Mailroom, Clerical, Filing, Scanning, Data, claims entry, reporting, MS office Additional Skills & Qualifications: Minimum Related Years of Experience (per minimum education) Required: Handling of incoming and outgoing mail and packages and postage meter machines preferred. Prior experience and/or knowledge of health insurance claims or enrollment applications preferred. 1-2 years' experience in a fast-paced office setting. Additional Info: This position is located in Menasha, Wi and is 100% on-site The pay for this position is $17-$17.50. About Aston Carter: Please Note: Scammers are posing as Aston Carter. We'll never contact you via Gmail, Telegram, or WhatsApp and we'll never solicit money from you. At Aston Carter, we're dedicated to expanding career opportunities for the skilled professionals who power our business. Our success is driven by the talented, motivated people who join our team across a range of positions - from recruiting, sales and delivery to corporate roles. As part of our team, employees have the opportunity for long-term career success, where hard work is rewarded and the potential for growth is limitless. Established in 1997, Aston Carter is a leading staffing and consulting firm, providing high-caliber talent and premium services to more than 7,000 companies across North America. Spanning four continents and more than 200 offices, we extend our clients' capabilities by seeking solvers and delivering solutions to address today's workforce challenges. For organizations looking for innovative solutions shaped by critical-thinking professionals, visit . Aston Carter is a company within Allegis Group, a global leader in talent solutions. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please call or email for other accommodation options. However, if you have questions about this position, please contact the Recruiter located at the bottom of the job posting. The Recruiter is the sole point of contact for questions about this position.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right operations clerk for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with operations clerk candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 operations clerk

   Once you have selected a candidate for the operations clerk position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is 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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