What does a program clerk do?
Program clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real program clerk resumes:
- Monitor patients in hospital by name and injury in addition to identification and personal belonging assistance.
- Schedule appointments to perform HUD require interviews making sure contractors/sub-contractors follow lead-safe rules and regulations.
Program clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Program Clerks are proficient in Data Entry, Word Processing, and Copy Machines. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Program Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 27%
Perform eligibility certification, data entry as well as a variety of general clerical duties.
- Word Processing, 10%
Greet visitors, answer phone, assisting applicants, database input, word processing, filing.
- Copy Machines, 6%
Maintained Curriculum Vitae s. Operated multiple copy machines simultaneously.
- Customer Support, 6%
Resolved customer support related issues and provided customer with proper solution.
- Database Systems, 6%
Maintained and updated filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems.
- Clerical Support, 3%
Provided direct administrative and clerical support to the Tsunami/Earthquake/Volcano Program manager.
Most program clerks use their skills in "data entry," "word processing," and "copy machines" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential program clerk responsibilities here:
Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a program clerk to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "general office clerks often provide general information to company staff, customers, or the public." Additionally, a program clerk resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "utilized an electronic cash registry systems and computed and record individual transactions for customers and entered data into regulatory-signed statistical reports. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform program clerk duties is detail oriented. Program clerks responsibilities require that "general office clerks perform many clerical tasks that require attention to detail, such as preparing bills." Program clerks also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "organized the details of special events, travel arrangements, corporate agenda and itineraries. "
Organizational skills. program clerks are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to program clerk responsibilities, because "general office clerks file and retrieve records." A program clerk resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "develop and facilitate presentations utilizing powerpoint and adobe acrobat to communicate organizational updates, plans and goals. "
The three companies that hire the most program clerks are:
- Earthjustice5 program clerks jobs
- Schoolcraft College2 program clerks jobs
- Penn National Gaming1 program clerks jobs
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Program clerk vs. Office specialist
An office specialist is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the organization's daily operations. Office specialists must be highly organizational, as well as having excellent time-management skills to handle work units. They have duties including data entry procedures, greeting visitors, responding to customers' inquiries through phone calls and e-mails, and filing and sorting documents. Office specialists are responsible for creating meeting reports, scheduling appointments, evaluating financial statements, coordinating with other staff for event planning, and assisting the senior management with complex functions.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, program clerk responsibilities require skills like "copy machines," "customer support," "database systems," and "child care." Meanwhile a typical office specialist has skills in areas such as "customer service," "patients," "phone calls," and "office support." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Office specialists earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $37,752. On the other hand, program clerks are paid more in the education industry with an average salary of $28,597.On average, office specialists reach similar levels of education than program clerks. Office specialists are 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Program clerk vs. 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. A clerk-typist must show excellent organizational and time-management skills, especially with handling various typing tasks under strict deadlines and minimal supervision. They also respond and take calls from clients and customers, assisting with their inquiries and concerns.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real program clerk resumes. While program clerk responsibilities can utilize skills like "customer support," "database systems," "child care," and "veterans," clerks typist use skills like "customer service," "payroll," "input data," and "scheduling appointments."
On average, clerks typist earn a higher salary than program clerks. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, clerks typist earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $32,312. Whereas program clerks have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $28,597.clerks typist earn similar levels of education than program clerks in general. They're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Program clerk vs. Receptionist/billing clerk
A receptionist/billing clerk is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to maintain a smooth flow of operations for the business. Receptionist/billing clerks process the customers' payment transactions, manage account payables, releasing invoices, and immediately resolve account discrepancies. A receptionist/billing clerk must have excellent communication and analytical skills, responding to customers' inquiries and concerns, escalating high-level complaints to the billing management. They should also maintain records of financial documentation for reference and reconciliation as needed.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from program clerk resumes include skills like "copy machines," "customer support," "database systems," and "child care," whereas a receptionist/billing clerk is more likely to list skills in "patients," "customer service," "appointment scheduling," and "patient appointments. "
Receptionist/billing clerks earn the best pay in the technology industry, where they command an average salary of $35,383. Program clerks earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $28,597.Most receptionist/billing clerks achieve a similar degree level compared to program clerks. For example, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Program clerk vs. Office support clerk
Office support clerks are professionals who provide clerical and administrative duties that support the daily activities of an organization's office setting. These clerks are required to answer incoming calls from clients while maintaining all office and cleaning supplies for the organization. They must communicate with clients and direct them to the appropriate department to ensure quality customer service. Office support clerks must also utilize the automated word processing equipment so that they can produce reports, statistical information, and other departmental information.
Types of program clerk
Updated January 8, 2025











