Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks (SOC 43-4041) earn a median $50,080 a year ($24.08 an hour) in the United States, with 12,030 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Texas.
What credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks do
Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks authorize credit charges against customers' accounts and look into the history and credit standing of individuals or businesses applying for credit. They keep records of customers' charges and payments, and they compile and analyze the credit information gathered by their investigations. To build that picture they get information on prospective credit customers from banks, credit bureaus, and similar credit services, and they provide reciprocal information when asked. Some interview applicants by telephone or in person to collect the personal and financial data needed to complete a credit report, judge credit worthiness, process the application, and notify the customer whether credit was accepted or rejected. O*NET alternate titles for the group include charge authorizer, commercial credit analyst, and accounts receivable coordinator, which suggests how varied the settings are. Loan interviewers and clerks process loan applications, and bill and account collectors pursue overdue accounts; both are classified separately.
Also called: Accounts Receivable Coordinator, Authorizer, Branch Processor, Call Out Operator, Charge Authorizer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.55 | $19.48 | $24.08 | $29.26 | $34.95 | $24.72 | 12,030 |
| Annual | $30,260 | $40,520 | $50,080 | $60,860 | $72,700 | $51,420 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.07 | $22.85 | $30.25 | $32.14 | $37.56 | $28.42 | 1,180 | 0.08 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $43,830 | $47,530 | $62,930 | $66,840 | $78,120 | $59,110 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $22.65 | $29.29 | $29.33 | $32.75 | $34.00 | $29.78 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.30 |
| Annual | $47,120 | $60,920 | $61,000 | $68,110 | $70,720 | $61,940 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $25.53 | $26.28 | $28.77 | $28.91 | $32.11 | $28.29 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $53,110 | $54,660 | $59,840 | $60,120 | $66,790 | $58,850 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $22.27 | $24.13 | $28.56 | $30.40 | $35.63 | $28.10 | 600 | 0.14 | 1.81 |
| Annual | $46,310 | $50,200 | $59,400 | $63,220 | $74,100 | $58,450 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $18.68 | $22.41 | $28.31 | $36.20 | $42.84 | $30.26 | 140 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| Annual | $38,840 | $46,600 | $58,880 | $75,300 | $89,110 | $62,940 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $21.07 | $22.85 | $30.25 | $32.14 | $37.56 | $28.42 | 1,180 | 0.08 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $43,830 | $47,530 | $62,930 | $66,840 | $78,120 | $59,110 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.65 | $14.48 | $20.10 | $24.98 | $28.89 | $20.79 | 930 | 0.09 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $28,390 | $30,110 | $41,810 | $51,970 | $60,100 | $43,240 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $20.40 | $22.16 | $27.17 | $31.36 | $36.45 | $27.70 | 730 | 0.08 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $42,440 | $46,090 | $56,510 | $65,220 | $75,810 | $57,620 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $12.35 | $13.19 | $14.66 | $20.84 | $29.51 | $18.33 | 720 | 0.15 | 1.90 |
| Annual | $25,690 | $27,440 | $30,490 | $43,340 | $61,380 | $38,130 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $22.27 | $24.13 | $28.56 | $30.40 | $35.63 | $28.10 | 600 | 0.14 | 1.81 |
| Annual | $46,310 | $50,200 | $59,400 | $63,220 | $74,100 | $58,450 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $21.89 | $26.53 | $30.48 | $32.44 | $39.69 | $30.29 | 410 | 0.14 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $45,530 | $55,190 | $63,400 | $67,470 | $82,560 | $63,010 | ||||
| Omaha, NE-IA | Hourly | $20.29 | $24.05 | $30.39 | $33.50 | $39.15 | $29.19 | 80 | 0.17 | 2.18 |
| Annual | $42,190 | $50,030 | $63,220 | $69,690 | $81,430 | $60,720 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.68 | $26.65 | $30.25 | $34.69 | $37.56 | $30.38 | 770 | 0.19 | 2.46 |
| Annual | $47,180 | $55,430 | $62,930 | $72,140 | $78,120 | $63,190 | ||||
| St. Louis, MO-IL | Hourly | $20.52 | $24.86 | $29.91 | $36.50 | $40.01 | $30.81 | 70 | 0.05 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $42,670 | $51,710 | $62,210 | $75,920 | $83,220 | $64,090 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $28.27 | $29.29 | $29.34 | $30.63 | $37.22 | $30.34 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $58,800 | $60,920 | $61,030 | $63,720 | $77,410 | $63,110 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.03 | $24.22 | $28.54 | $32.95 | $36.90 | $29.03 | 810 | 0.09 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $45,810 | $50,370 | $59,370 | $68,540 | $76,750 | $60,390 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $22.68 | $26.65 | $30.25 | $34.69 | $37.56 | $30.38 | 770 | 0.19 | 2.46 |
| Annual | $47,180 | $55,430 | $62,930 | $72,140 | $78,120 | $63,190 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $21.89 | $26.53 | $30.48 | $32.44 | $39.69 | $30.29 | 410 | 0.14 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $45,530 | $55,190 | $63,400 | $67,470 | $82,560 | $63,010 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $14.13 | $14.33 | $18.07 | $23.01 | $36.10 | $20.55 | 370 | 0.13 | 1.65 |
| Annual | $29,380 | $29,800 | $37,590 | $47,860 | $75,100 | $42,740 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $21.59 | $24.97 | $25.26 | $29.65 | $36.12 | $27.28 | 290 | 0.05 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $44,910 | $51,930 | $52,530 | $61,680 | $75,130 | $56,750 | ||||
Top industries employing credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) employ 13.1% of credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks nationally (1,570 jobs) at a median $50,130 a year ($24.10 an hour), followed by Nondepository Credit Intermediation (13.0%) and Management of Companies and Enterprises (11.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (5221 and 5223 only) NAICS 5220A1 | 1,570 | 13.1% | $50,130 | $24.10 |
| Nondepository Credit Intermediation NAICS 522200 | 1,560 | 13.0% | $51,260 | $24.64 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 1,390 | 11.6% | $57,480 | $27.63 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers NAICS 449100 | 1,350 | 11.2% | $27,640 | $13.29 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) NAICS 4230A1 | 840 | 7.0% | $59,090 | $28.41 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (12,030). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $44,710 for credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks in May 2021 and $50,080 in May 2025, with employment of 16,820 and 12,030.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $44,710 | $21.49 | 16,820 |
| May 2022 | $44,830 | $21.55 | 16,290 |
| May 2023 | $48,000 | $23.08 | 14,290 |
| May 2024 | $49,130 | $23.62 | 11,960 |
| May 2025 | $50,080 | $24.08 | 12,030 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
38 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas profile | $30.25 | $62,930 | $43,830 | $78,120 | 1,180 | 0.08 | 1.08 |
| 2 | Minnesota profile | $29.33 | $61,000 | $47,120 | $70,720 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.30 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $28.77 | $59,840 | $53,110 | $66,790 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.39 |
| 4 | New Jersey profile | $28.56 | $59,400 | $46,310 | $74,100 | 600 | 0.14 | 1.81 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $28.31 | $58,880 | $38,840 | $89,110 | 140 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| 6 | New Hampshire profile | $28.19 | $58,620 | $46,250 | $71,410 | 110 | 0.16 | 2.08 |
| 7 | Wisconsin profile | $27.86 | $57,940 | $39,140 | $60,860 | 310 | 0.11 | 1.37 |
| 8 | Ohio profile | $27.46 | $57,120 | $47,830 | $73,000 | 490 | 0.09 | 1.13 |
| 9 | New York profile | $27.17 | $56,510 | $42,440 | $75,810 | 730 | 0.08 | 0.98 |
| 10 | Massachusetts profile | $26.59 | $55,300 | $50,640 | $77,470 | 250 | 0.07 | 0.89 |
| 11 | Missouri profile | $25.39 | $52,820 | $40,720 | $80,630 | 180 | 0.06 | 0.80 |
| 12 | California profile | $24.97 | $51,950 | $40,700 | $74,630 | 590 | 0.03 | 0.42 |
| 13 | Oregon profile | $24.82 | $51,620 | $47,390 | $61,980 | 140 | 0.07 | 0.90 |
| 14 | Utah profile | $24.64 | $51,260 | $41,220 | $60,970 | 150 | 0.09 | 1.13 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania profile | $24.56 | $51,090 | $38,650 | $71,850 | 250 | 0.04 | 0.52 |
| 16 | Montana profile | $24.55 | $51,060 | $47,320 | $56,650 | ** | ** | ** |
| 17 | Colorado profile | $24.43 | $50,820 | $41,700 | $61,900 | 210 | 0.07 | 0.92 |
| 18 | Maine profile | $24.22 | $50,370 | $37,340 | $74,050 | 80 | 0.13 | 1.63 |
| 19 | Nebraska profile | $24.05 | $50,030 | $39,500 | $81,430 | 130 | 0.13 | 1.65 |
| 20 | Kentucky profile | $23.94 | $49,790 | $40,070 | $50,520 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.41 |
| 21 | Iowa profile | $23.93 | $49,780 | $37,440 | $75,310 | 240 | 0.15 | 1.98 |
| 22 | Michigan profile | $23.48 | $48,840 | $40,230 | $61,200 | 190 | 0.04 | 0.55 |
| 23 | Indiana profile | $23.04 | $47,930 | $39,480 | $62,990 | 470 | 0.15 | 1.91 |
| 24 | North Carolina profile | $22.76 | $47,340 | $26,410 | $62,840 | 500 | 0.10 | 1.31 |
| 25 | Virginia profile | $22.74 | $47,300 | $29,930 | $74,990 | 280 | 0.07 | 0.90 |
| 26 | Nevada profile | $22.72 | $47,260 | $37,780 | $66,140 | 90 | 0.06 | 0.78 |
| 27 | West Virginia profile | $22.35 | $46,480 | $38,460 | $69,360 | 50 | 0.07 | 0.88 |
| 28 | Oklahoma profile | $22.33 | $46,450 | $35,380 | $63,230 | 220 | 0.13 | 1.65 |
| 29 | Florida profile | $20.10 | $41,810 | $28,390 | $60,100 | 930 | 0.09 | 1.21 |
| 30 | Mississippi profile | $18.77 | $39,040 | $37,340 | $63,060 | 80 | 0.07 | 0.85 |
| 31 | Louisiana profile | $18.00 | $37,440 | $27,120 | $49,270 | 330 | 0.17 | 2.18 |
| 32 | Alabama profile | $17.30 | $35,990 | $24,520 | $77,610 | 330 | 0.16 | 2.00 |
| 33 | Georgia profile | $14.66 | $30,490 | $25,690 | $61,380 | 720 | 0.15 | 1.90 |
| – | Arizona profile | * | * | * | * | 130 | 0.04 | 0.51 |
| – | Arkansas profile | * | * | * | * | 160 | 0.12 | 1.59 |
| – | Connecticut profile | * | * | * | * | 60 | 0.04 | 0.45 |
| – | Maryland profile | * | * | * | * | 150 | 0.05 | 0.70 |
| – | South Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 400 | 0.17 | 2.24 |
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-4041 Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-4041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-4041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.