Sales
Counter and rental clerks
Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.
Median pay
$41,300
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
46,100
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Counter and rental clerks
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Counter and rental clerks: 31% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.
- Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.
- Explain rental fees, policies, and procedures.
- Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.
- Advise customers on use and care of merchandise.
- Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.
- Answer telephones to provide information and receive orders.
- Inspect and adjust rental items to meet needs of customer.
Also called: Counter Clerk · Counter Service Representative · Leasing Consultant · Rental Agent · Rental Assistant · Rental Associate · Rental Clerk · Rental Counter Clerk
Outlook and AI
Counter and rental clerks held 409,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 421,900 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Retail salesperson
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Cashier
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Stockers and order fillers
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Customer service representative
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Telemarketer
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Parts salesperson
- Counter and rental clerks vs. Order clerk