Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks
Authorize credit charges against customers' accounts. Investigate history and credit standing of individuals or business establishments applying for credit. May interview applicants to obtain personal and financial data, determine credit worthiness, process applications, and notify customers of acceptance or rejection of credit.
Also called: Accounts Receivable Coordinator, Authorizer, Branch Processor, Call Out Operator, Charge Authorizer, Collector
Median pay
$50,080
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$30,260 – $72,700
People employed
12,030
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.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 3.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 4.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 5.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 6.Do you prefer working indoors?
- 7.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks pay by state
Annual median pay by state (33 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks salary in every state →
What credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks do
- 01Evaluate customers' computerized credit records and payment histories to decide whether to approve new credit, based on predetermined standards.
- 02Keep records of customers' charges and payments.
- 03Compile and analyze credit information gathered by investigation.
- 04File sales slips in customers' ledgers for billing purposes.
- 05Obtain information about potential creditors from banks, credit bureaus, and other credit services, and provide reciprocal information if requested.
- 06Interview credit applicants by telephone or in person to obtain personal and financial data needed to complete credit report.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Law and Government
- Administrative
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
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 credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks
- Bill and Account Collectors92% · −6%
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks89% · −2%
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents85% · +25%
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks85% · +1%
- Tellers82% · −14%
Change into credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Bill and Account Collectors92% · $47,030
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks92% · $49,230
- Tellers91% · $43,030
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks90% · $50,670
- Billing and Posting Clerks88% · $48,500
Majors that lead here
- Banking and Financial Support Services
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.