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Correspondence clerk: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$46,800median pay per year, or $22.50 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $33,300lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,61025th percentile
  3. $46,800median
  4. $56,09075th percentile
  5. $64,510top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

A correspondence clerk had a median pay of $46,800 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to fall 5.6% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.6%[2]
Openings per year
500[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do correspondence clerks make?

The median pay for correspondence clerks was $46,800 a year, or $22.50 an hour[1]. The average was $48,090 a year, or $23.12 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sat below the all-occupation figure.

Pay varies a lot within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $33,300 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $38,610[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $56,090, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $64,510[3]. By the hour, those same marks were $16.01, $18.56, $26.97 and $31.02[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][8] $33,300 $16.01
Median[1] $46,800 $22.50
90th percentile[3][8] $64,510 $31.02

A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 26 states with published data, Connecticut had the highest median at $61,310, followed by Oregon at $61,160 and California at $53,640[11]. Louisiana had the lowest listed median at $36,790[11].

Texas had the most jobs at 830, followed by New York with 540 and Florida with 350[12]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the highest median at $51,650, then Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington at $49,650 and San Antonio-New Braunfels at $48,860[13]. The New York area also had the most jobs, at 330[14].

Show median pay in 26 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Connecticut[11]$61,31070
Oregon$61,160110
California$53,640240
Idaho$51,01040
Nebraska$49,80060
New Hampshire$49,730120
Indiana$49,71070
Ohio$49,70040
New York$49,360540
Maine$49,18040
Texas$48,860830
New Jersey$48,51040
Virginia$48,310n/a
Nevada$47,820130
Utah$47,450140
Wisconsin$47,400n/a
Illinois$46,28050
Colorado$45,51050
Missouri$43,40070
Tennessee$42,390100
North Carolina$42,34050
South Carolina$41,710130
Michigan$40,78040
Pennsylvania$40,270140
Arizona$39,900110
Louisiana$36,79060

How to become a correspondence clerk

The path is short, based on the typical entry route[6].

The training details here come from a profile of information clerks, which covers a wider group that includes this job[15]. It says these clerks usually need a high school diploma and learn on the job[16]. Training often lasts a few weeks and covers clerical procedures and computer applications[17]. Courses in word processing and spreadsheets are described as helpful[18].

In an O*NET survey of 18 workers, 43% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 28% said an associate's degree, 17% said some college courses and 12% said a bachelor's degree[19]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture only.

O*NET also uses titles such as Claims Correspondence Clerk, Correspondence Coordinator and Dispute Specialist for this work[20].

What correspondence clerks do

These clerks write replies to letters and electronic messages about things like merchandise requests, damage claims, credit questions, late accounts and billing errors[21]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

The workplace facts come from the wider information clerks profile[15]. These clerks work in nearly every industry, and most work in offices[23]. Customer service work can be stressful when customers are unhappy[24]. Most information clerks work full time[25].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of correspondence clerks to fall 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,800 to 4,500 jobs[2]. Employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[26]. These counts include the self-employed, who were 4.3% of this group in 2025[2][27].

BLS names productivity change as the factor. Better document automation and virtual messaging systems make each worker more productive, so the share of these workers falls[28].

Even so, about 500 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs that come up when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 4.4% of workers leave the labor force and 6.2% move to a different occupation[29].

Is it a good fit?

The job has a low barrier to entry, with a high school diploma and short on-the-job training[6]. Median pay is a little below the all-occupation median[1][4]. Employment is projected to shrink while all occupations grow[2][26]. Related office jobs such as office clerks and customer service representatives also have projected declines[30]. Someone weighing this job may want to compare it with those roles.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[30].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a correspondence clerk make an hour?
The median was $22.50 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $23.12[1][7].
What education do you need to be a correspondence clerk?
The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with short-term on-the-job training[6].
Is correspondence clerk a growing job?
No. Employment is projected to fall 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations grow 3.5%[2][26].
What is the highest paying state for correspondence clerks?
Connecticut had the highest median at $61,310, with Oregon next at $61,160[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Correspondence Clerks in the US was $46,800 per year and $22.50 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Correspondence Clerks is projected to decline 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,800 to 4,500 jobs (a change of -300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Correspondence Clerks: 10th percentile $33,300, 25th percentile $38,610, 75th percentile $56,090, 90th percentile $64,510. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Correspondence Clerks are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Correspondence Clerks: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Correspondence Clerks was $48,090 per year and $23.12 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Correspondence Clerks: 10th percentile $16.01, 25th percentile $18.56, 75th percentile $26.97, 90th percentile $31.02. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Correspondence Clerks in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Correspondence Clerks jobs: Texas 830; New York 540; Florida 350; California 240; Georgia 150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Correspondence Clerks (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $51,650; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $49,650; San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $48,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Correspondence Clerks jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 330 (median $51,650); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 280 (median $49,650); San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX 130 (median $48,860); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 120; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT 90 (median $47,450); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 80. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Information Clerks" covers Correspondence Clerks together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. O*NET 43-4021.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 43%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 28%, Some College Courses 17%, Bachelor's Degree 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 43-4021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Chargeback Specialist, Claims Correspondence Clerk, Correspondence Clerk, Correspondence Coordinator, Correspondence Representative (Correspondence Rep), Correspondent, Dispute Resolution Analyst, Dispute Specialist. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET description of Correspondence Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Correspondence Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  27. BLS Employment Projections: 4.3% of Correspondence Clerks were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  28. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Correspondence Clerks: Productivity change - share decreases as increasingly capable document automation and virtual messaging systems increase the productivity of these workers. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Correspondence Clerks: 4.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  30. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.