How much does a counter and rental clerk make?
The median counter and rental clerk in the United States earns $38,540 per year, about $18.53 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all counter and rental clerks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 41-2021.
Counter and rental clerk salary range
Pay for counter and rental clerks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,580 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $62,030. The average (mean) wage of $43,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,580 | $13.74 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $34,200 | $16.44 | |
| Median (50th) | $38,540 | $18.53 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $48,290 | $23.22 | |
| 90th percentile | $62,030 | $29.82 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for counter and rental clerks (SOC 41-2021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Counter and rental clerk salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Counter and rental clerks earn the most in District of Columbia at $49,130 a year, and the least in Alabama at $30,750. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $49,130 | 670 |
| Washington | $47,420 | 16,010 |
| Vermont | $46,940 | 710 |
| New Hampshire | $45,540 | 1,680 |
| New Jersey | $45,260 | 10,430 |
| Colorado | $44,850 | 14,660 |
| New York | $44,630 | 18,900 |
| Hawaii | $44,250 | 1,540 |
| Wisconsin | $43,950 | 5,890 |
| Oregon | $42,730 | 4,570 |
| Massachusetts | $42,720 | 5,830 |
| Virginia | $42,250 | 14,080 |
| Minnesota | $42,220 | 4,230 |
| Montana | $42,220 | 1,390 |
| Alaska | $41,600 | 740 |
| Maine | $41,600 | 1,040 |
| California | $41,350 | 69,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,710 | 10,050 |
| Arizona | $40,360 | 8,100 |
| Rhode Island | $39,040 | 960 |
| Nevada | $38,720 | 2,270 |
| Michigan | $38,310 | 11,610 |
| Wyoming | $38,110 | 1,160 |
| Kansas | $38,060 | 2,460 |
| Delaware | $37,770 | 990 |
| North Carolina | $37,630 | 16,150 |
| Kentucky | $37,620 | 2,320 |
| Maryland | $37,500 | 3,920 |
| Florida | $37,460 | 29,150 |
| Idaho | $37,440 | 1,660 |
| North Dakota | $37,440 | 1,430 |
| Utah | $37,300 | 3,370 |
| Connecticut | $37,290 | 3,470 |
| Illinois | $36,830 | 11,420 |
| South Dakota | $36,800 | 690 |
| Ohio | $36,700 | 9,430 |
| South Carolina | $36,280 | 5,160 |
| Indiana | $36,050 | 9,750 |
| Iowa | $36,050 | 1,600 |
| Georgia | $35,990 | 10,180 |
| Missouri | $35,770 | 5,530 |
| Nebraska | $35,550 | 3,750 |
| New Mexico | $35,440 | 2,460 |
| Texas | $35,210 | 37,680 |
| Tennessee | $34,630 | 5,910 |
| Arkansas | $34,200 | 3,690 |
| Oklahoma | $32,880 | 4,300 |
| Mississippi | $31,420 | 2,870 |
| West Virginia | $31,070 | 1,480 |
| Louisiana | $31,050 | 3,900 |
| Alabama | $30,750 | 7,460 |
State median wages for counter and rental clerks (SOC 41-2021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for counter and rental clerks
The BLS projects employment of counter and rental clerks to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 409,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 421,900 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 46,100 openings a year for counter and rental clerks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a counter and rental clerk
The typical entry-level education for counter and rental clerks is no formal educational credential, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a counter and rental clerk earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $49,130) and the lowest (Alabama, $30,750) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 398,620 people work as counter and rental clerks in the United States. At $38,540 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Counter and rental clerk salary FAQ
How much does a counter and rental clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a counter and rental clerk is $18.53. The middle half of counter and rental clerks earn between $16.44 and $23.22 per hour.
What is the highest counter and rental clerk salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of counter and rental clerks earn more than $62,030 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a counter and rental clerk make a year?
The median annual salary for a counter and rental clerk is $38,540. The average (mean) wage of $43,700 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a counter and rental clerk a well paid job?
At $38,540 a year, a counter and rental clerk earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 398,620 people work as counter and rental clerks in the United States.
Which state pays counter and rental clerks the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for counter and rental clerks at $49,130 a year. Washington ($47,420) and Vermont ($46,940) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a counter and rental clerk a good career?
Employment of counter and rental clerks is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 46,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a counter and rental clerk?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for counter and rental clerks as no formal educational credential, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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