Correspondence Clerks
Compose letters or electronic correspondence in reply to requests for merchandise, damage claims, credit and other information, delinquent accounts, incorrect billings, or unsatisfactory services. Duties may include gathering data to formulate reply and preparing correspondence.
Also called: Authorization and Referral Coordinator, Authorization Coordinator, Authorization Representative (Authorization Rep), Authorization Specialist, Chargeback Specialist, Claims Correspondence Clerk
Median pay
$46,800
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$33,300 – $64,510
People employed
4,290
Holland code
CES
Conventional · Enterprising · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 2.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 3.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 4.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 5.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 6.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Correspondence Clerks pay by state
Annual median pay by state (26 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What correspondence clerks do
- 01Ensure that money collected is properly recorded and secured.
- 02Maintain files and control records to show correspondence activities.
- 03Read incoming correspondence to ascertain nature of writers' concerns and to determine disposition of correspondence.
- 04Gather records pertinent to specific problems, review them for completeness and accuracy, and attach records to correspondence as necessary.
- 05Prepare documents and correspondence, such as damage claims, credit and billing inquiries, invoices, and service complaints.
- 06Process orders for goods requested in correspondence.
Skills that matter most
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Administrative
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Economics and Accounting
- Mathematics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from correspondence clerks
- Office Clerks, General94% · −4%
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive94% · +2%
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks93% · +5%
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks91% · +8%
- Billing and Posting Clerks89% · +4%
Change into correspondence clerks
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks93% · $49,230
- Bill and Account Collectors91% · $47,030
- Office Clerks, General91% · $45,010
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive91% · $47,540
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks87% · $50,670
Majors that lead here
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.