Counter and Rental Clerks
Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.
Also called: Airplane Charter Clerk, Apartment Rental Clerk, Apparel Rental Clerk, Auto Rental Clerk, Automobile Rental Clerk, Automotive Customer Service Advisor (Auto Customer Service Advisor)
Median pay
$41,300
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$29,800 – $65,370
People employed
400,810
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 happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 2.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 3.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Counter and Rental Clerks pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What counter and rental clerks do
- 01Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.
- 02Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.
- 03Explain rental fees, policies, and procedures.
- 04Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.
- 05Advise customers on use and care of merchandise.
- 06Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Social Orientation
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: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
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 counter and rental clerks
- Customer Service Representatives83% · +8%
- Postal Service Clerks83% · +50%
- Stockers and Order Fillers82% · −10%
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers82% · 0%
- Order Clerks82% · +12%
Change into counter and rental clerks
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks88% · $35,070
- Parking Attendants85% · $35,150
- Amusement and Recreation Attendants83% · $32,150
- Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers83% · $32,910
- Baggage Porters and Bellhops82% · $37,080