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Job outlook for support clerks in the United States
Support clerk job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected support clerk job growth rate is -5% from 2018-2028.
About -130,800 new jobs for support clerks are projected over the next decade.
Support clerk salaries have increased 16% for support clerks in the last 5 years.
There are over 363,119 support clerks currently employed in the United States.
There are 163,168 active support clerk job openings in the US.
The average support clerk salary is $35,159.
Are support clerk jobs in demand?
Support clerk job and salary trends over time
Support clerk jobs over time
Support clerk job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 363,119 | 0.11% |
| 2020 | 392,258 | 0.12% |
| 2019 | 416,152 | 0.12% |
| 2018 | 418,921 | 0.13% |
| 2017 | 418,492 | 0.13% |
Average support clerk salary over time
Support clerk salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,159 | $16.90 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $33,876 | $16.29 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | $32,572 | $15.66 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $31,348 | $15.07 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $30,432 | $14.63 | +3.4% |
Support clerk jobs by state
Most common states for support clerks
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 291 | 33% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,101 | 28% |
| 3 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,690 | 28% |
| 4 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 2,414 | 24% |
| 5 | California | 39,536,653 | 9,006 | 23% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 474 | 23% |
| 7 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 155 | 22% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,172 | 21% |
| 9 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 606 | 21% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 206 | 21% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 154 | 21% |
| 12 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,367 | 20% |
| 13 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 1,010 | 20% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 718 | 20% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 607 | 19% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 593 | 19% |
| 17 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,181 | 18% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 998 | 18% |
| 19 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 553 | 18% |
| 20 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 352 | 18% |
Most common cities for support clerks
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Leandro | 3 | 3% | $42,243 |
| 2 | Elmhurst | 1 | 2% | $35,044 |
| 3 | Fort Pierce | 1 | 2% | $30,099 |
| 4 | Kokomo | 1 | 2% | $30,225 |
| 5 | Corona | 1 | 1% | $44,367 |
| 6 | Delray Beach | 1 | 1% | $30,185 |
| 7 | Jackson | 1 | 1% | $28,958 |
| 8 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $34,521 |
| 9 | Washington | 2 | 0% | $46,218 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne | 1 | 0% | $30,571 |
Support Clerk job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of support clerk experts
Missouri University of Science & Technology
California State University Channel Islands
Ohio University - Lancaster Campus
University of Iowa
College of Charleston
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Dixie State University
Albright College
West Liberty University
Christi Patton Luks
Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic AffairsMissouri University of Science & Technology
Linda & Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
What's a good job out of college for Support Clerks?
Christi Patton Luks: A good job out of college is one that can be adapted to the individual's skills and interests and encourages them to stretch. Frequently, students think they want to work in a particular type of job. Once they have it, they discover that it was not what they thought it would be. Many companies rotate new employees through a variety of positions. Those are great for helping people find their own hidden talents. I know that I have discovered abilities that I would not have even attempted when I was 20.
Amanda Carpenter
DirectorCalifornia State University Channel Islands
Department of Career Development and Alumni Engagement
What technical skills for a Support Clerk stand out to employers?
Amanda Carpenter: -Data analytics skills are critical technical skills that stand out to employers in today's market. According to NACE (2018), the use of data analytics is projected to have the most significant impact on an organization's operational efficiency and revenue generation.
-Source (NACE): www.naceweb.org
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Support Clerk job market given the pandemic?
Amanda Carpenter: -Market competition- We are seeing an increase in the number of applicants per position, making entry-level employment opportunities extremely competitive. New graduates may be competing for positions with professionals who have significantly more work experience. This means, new graduates must stand out in the applicant pool distinguishing strengths and skills related to the position.
-Recruiting strategy- Employers are adjusting their recruiting strategies in response to the pandemic with more recruiters opting to source candidates virtually. In result, candidates need to polish interview skills in a virtual environment and be prepared to interview in 1:1 and group settings virtually. Employers want to see how candidates respond in these challenging situations. Demonstrating resiliency, adaptability, and the ability to pivot are key skills to demonstrate during these times.
-Remote work- a significant increase in remote work positions opening doors for candidates to consider applying for roles outside of their geographical areas to including international and across the United States.
Brandy Bailey
Career CoachOhio University - Lancaster Campus
Student Services, Career Services
What soft skills should all Support Clerks possess?
Brandy Bailey: Soft skills may vary depending on the employer, industry, and personal opinions. My biggest ones are communication skills, adaptability, self-awareness, teamwork, problem-solving, intercultural competency, creativity or innovation, and time management.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Support Clerks?
Brandy Bailey: The coronavirus pandemic has changed the job market in many ways. For recent graduates, they should highlight the fact that they have persevered and graduated during this time. It has impacted how they live, work, and go to school for over a year now! Many jobs may be work-from-home or only require employees to go in to the workplace one or a few days a week. There is more flexibility with work schedules, and employers are putting the health and safety of employees first now more than ever before. Today's graduates may be more adaptable to change, appreciate work-life balance, and possess communication skills that allow them to utilize a variety of communication methods, not only in-person, but virtually as well.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Support Clerks?
Brian Lai Ph.D.: I think the impact of the pandemic will be around for another year or so as in-person opportunities start to return. For graduates, the disruption in the economy and lack of in-person opportunities in traditional hiring areas (e.g. DC) has made it harder to find opportunities than before the pandemic.
What experience really stands out on Support Clerk resumes?
Brian Lai Ph.D.: Authentic experiences that mirror what they will be doing in a job. So internships in similar kinds of positions or experiential learning opportunities that mirror what positions require you to do.
What type of skills will young Support Clerks need?
Jacob Craig Ph.D.: In school, students are often taught to work by themselves. In some cases, they are even penalized for working with others. In some rare cases, students are asked to do a little group work but only for a short amount of time, at the end of their learning in a class.
The first thing that graduates need to know is that the workplace is nearly opposite from school. Employees, especially professional, technical, and content writer jobs, are more often than not collaborative and teams-based. The added wrinkle is that office culture is unlikely to go back to pre-pandemic occupancy rates.
So graduates need to know is that odds are good that at least part of their job will be remote. And that might be the case for at least part of the time. Announcements from tech, finance, and insurance about their latest work-from-home policies keep making the news. So not only are the chances good that they'll be working in teams, their team members and co-workers won't be in the same room with them. They'll be working collaboratively through writing. This is good news for English graduates. Much of the writing someone in a professional, technical, or content writing job are products meant for public readership. Like press releases that are sent to news outlets. But all of that writing is built on a network of notes, memos, policies, and text threads meant for co-workers. Remote work just means that co-workers will be writing each other more and more often. English graduates who can make texts for public audiences and write effectively to co-workers are positioned to do well.
The second thing that students need to know is how to start and stop writing in the context of someone else's draft. They will rarely begin with a blank screen and end with a finished text.
The third thing is that it's likely small businesses will take some time to bounce back. In those workplace settings, it is likely that an employee will need to have a range of knowledge and skills because their job will combine parts multiple roles. So a copywriter in a small marketing firm might need to also know something about SEO and social analytics and visual design. In larger offices, however, jobs tend to be much more specialized and team-based. So graduates need to be comfortable working in teams where they have an assigned role, and they need to be able to receive work in-process, complete their assigned part, and hand that work off still in-process.
And finally, students need to learn how to learn new technologies. Learn just through documentation, without a human tutorial. Even if employees are exclusively using the Microsoft Suite, it will be used for writing, editing, project management. It will be used to collaborate and present. Depending on where a student studies and what classes they take, those digital pieces might not be a part of their coursework. So, at the very least, students need to know that the workforce will constantly ask them to learn new technologies and new uses for familiar technologies.
What experience really stands out on Support Clerk resumes?
Jacob Craig Ph.D.: I believe strongly in dexterity and a language of expertise. That means that if a student can show they can adapt to new demands by learning a new way of working, learning about a new audience, learning how to address a new purpose, learning a new genre or style, and learning a new technology, that employee attractive. Especially at the entry-level, the ability to learn and adapt is valuable. Being able to talk about their experience using a persuasive vocabulary is often useful. For instance, if students can describe their approach to communication without using cliches (short and sweet, clear) and something along the lines of purpose, audience, situation, genre, medium--that's persuasive.
Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice EdD
Recruitment & Scholarship CoordinatorUniversity of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Office of Student Services
What Support Clerk skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice EdD: Most colleges want to see a gap year that is connected to making the world a better place. An internship or a job with a non-profit can be life changing for ones personal development, and ones career. These can be local with an agency in ones community, or national with an agency like City Year or Americorps. Gap years should focus on 'soft skills' where possible so working with the public is ideal. Having said that, any job will give young people valuable experience. My gap year included driving a taxi in Dubuque, Iowa. Boy did I learn a lot about working with people!
What general advice would you give to a Support Clerk?
Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice EdD: 1) Assume your first job won't be your last one. It is very common to change jobs/careers/employers; 2) Be a life-long learner. Earn additional credentials/degrees. Attend workshops in your field; 3) Educate yourself about issues of diversity. The world is a diverse place. Your ability to be comfortable with diverse populations will be welcomed by any employer.
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.
Department Chair and Associate Professor of EnglishDixie State University
English Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Support Clerk job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.: There will be a lot more jobs that have telecommute options or requirements. Perhaps the office will never fully go away, but the pandemic has shown employers just how effective and cost-saving it can be to have people work from home. It saves money on things like office space and travel reimbursements. We'll see an increase in purely work-from-home jobs, but the biggest change will be the morphing of jobs into hybrid telecommute positions, where employees will still need to physically be in the office at times, but a good chunk of their work will be completed at home.
What experience really stands out on Support Clerk resumes?
Guillaume de Syon Ph.D.: It all depends on the job one seeks, but longer service with one employer suggests stability. Adding an internship or two, even short ones (e.g. from summer) reveals openness of mind. This is important in the case of a humanities degree. Employers welcome these, but do want to see that the applicant has put their skills to work. Finally, stressing one's technical skills in various programs or generic software is good, even if acquired on the go (who knew of "Zoom" before the pandemic?). It also points to adaptability, especially when starting in an office at the entry level.
Dr. Darrin Cox
Professor of HistoryWest Liberty University
College of Liberal Arts
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Support Clerk job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Darrin Cox: The need for adaptability. Companies are going to focus more on hiring people with a wide array of skills and abilities that provide them the kind of adaptability needed for the modern workspace. It's one of the reasons why I think humanities and social science degrees will be in more demand in the coming years. At their core, these degrees are about analyzing how we interact in the social world while providing specific training in critical thinking, reasoning, and writing. Basically, employers will be looking for those who are tech savvy, but less so in terms of how to operate specific applications or technology and more so in ways that they can be adapted to best suit the needs of the company.