Billing and posting clerks and machine operators
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Billing and Posting Clerks and Machine Operators: Compile, compute, and record billing, accounting, statistical, and other numerical data for billing purposes. Prepare billing invoices for services rendered or for delivery or shipment of goods.
In 2004, billing and posting clerks and machine operators held about 523,000 jobs. Although all industries employ billing clerks, the health care industry employs the most, about a third of all billing clerks. The wholesale and retail trade industries also employ a large number of billing clerks. Third-party billing companies—companies that provide billing services for other companies—are employing a growing number of billing clerks. Industries that are providing this service are the accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services industry and the office administrative and business support services industries. These industries currently employ around 5 percent of the occupation, although a portion of clerks in these industries are performing the function on their own accounts. Another 3 percent—mostly medical billers—were self employed.
Median hourly earnings of billing and posting clerks and machine operators were $13.00 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.76 and $15.86. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.12, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $18.88.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Billing and Posting Clerks and Machine Operators)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Billing and posting clerks and machine operators | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting employment: 30 mean earnings: $24,730 (def) (IG) | $15,870 | $19,460 | $24,910 | $28,080 | $32,590 |
| Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry employment: 30 mean earnings: $24,660 | $15,850 | $19,390 | $24,850 | $28,000 | $32,390 |
| Mining employment: 210 mean earnings: $29,400 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,560 | $22,010 | $28,420 | $36,970 | $42,630 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) employment: 100 mean earnings: $28,280 | $18,990 | $21,170 | $27,390 | $34,710 | $40,990 |
| Support Activities for Mining employment: 90 mean earnings: $31,730 | $16,130 | $23,810 | $33,660 | $40,410 | $44,010 |
| Utilities employment: 4,490 mean earnings: $31,910 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,940 | $24,410 | $30,250 | $37,830 | $46,150 |
| Utilities employment: 4,490 mean earnings: $31,910 | $19,940 | $24,410 | $30,250 | $37,830 | $46,150 |
| Construction employment: 8,410 mean earnings: $31,280 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,960 | $24,330 | $30,090 | $36,530 | $45,150 |
| Construction of Buildings employment: 3,570 mean earnings: $31,850 | $20,240 | $24,950 | $30,940 | $37,620 | $44,780 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 2,820 mean earnings: $31,030 | $20,060 | $24,170 | $29,510 | $36,080 | $44,680 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors employment: 2,020 mean earnings: $30,640 | $19,520 | $23,510 | $29,450 | $35,240 | $46,590 |
| Manufacturing employment: 36,270 mean earnings: $28,880 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,540 | $23,410 | $27,920 | $33,740 | $40,210 |
| Food Manufacturing employment: 4,110 mean earnings: $27,600 | $19,100 | $22,490 | $26,760 | $32,310 | $37,370 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing employment: 790 mean earnings: $31,750 | $19,780 | $24,350 | $29,180 | $36,590 | $51,180 |
| Textile Mills employment: 860 mean earnings: $27,590 | $20,380 | $23,480 | $26,440 | $31,010 | $37,080 |
| Textile Product Mills employment: 600 mean earnings: $27,870 | $18,940 | $21,920 | $26,590 | $32,870 | $39,640 |
| Apparel Manufacturing employment: 780 mean earnings: $26,770 | $18,950 | $21,600 | $26,030 | $31,510 | $35,610 |
| Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing employment: 130 mean earnings: $27,230 | $18,830 | $21,440 | $25,950 | $32,560 | $39,040 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing employment: 1,830 mean earnings: $26,520 | $18,140 | $21,180 | $26,060 | $31,540 | $35,630 |
| Paper Manufacturing employment: 1,630 mean earnings: $29,900 | $20,730 | $24,660 | $28,870 | $34,510 | $41,430 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities employment: 3,430 mean earnings: $30,010 | $20,290 | $24,260 | $29,170 | $34,390 | $41,700 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing employment: 30 mean earnings: $31,330 | $18,560 | $23,680 | $27,890 | $36,810 | $46,910 |
| Chemical Manufacturing employment: 390 mean earnings: $30,660 | $20,270 | $24,790 | $30,320 | $36,040 | $42,410 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing employment: 2,800 mean earnings: $29,340 | $19,660 | $24,090 | $28,660 | $34,350 | $40,810 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing employment: 2,130 mean earnings: $29,260 | $19,530 | $23,480 | $28,230 | $34,340 | $41,230 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing employment: 1,030 mean earnings: $30,370 | $20,650 | $24,500 | $28,920 | $34,990 | $42,740 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing employment: 6,140 mean earnings: $29,270 | $19,610 | $23,660 | $28,420 | $34,070 | $40,550 |
| Machinery Manufacturing employment: 3,980 mean earnings: $28,740 | $19,560 | $23,530 | $27,760 | $33,510 | $39,770 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: 440 mean earnings: $32,150 | $22,330 | $26,000 | $31,500 | $37,020 | $43,770 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing employment: 210 mean earnings: $28,380 | $21,390 | $24,530 | $27,970 | $32,560 | $35,780 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing employment: 310 mean earnings: $29,440 | $20,180 | $24,230 | $28,510 | $34,080 | $40,470 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing employment: 1,100 mean earnings: $27,680 | $19,420 | $22,660 | $26,520 | $32,430 | $38,340 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing employment: 3,550 mean earnings: $28,570 | $19,400 | $23,180 | $27,690 | $33,630 | $39,880 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 42,380 mean earnings: $28,240 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,000 | $22,480 | $27,340 | $33,280 | $39,470 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods employment: 24,370 mean earnings: $28,200 | $19,130 | $22,590 | $27,430 | $33,250 | $39,050 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 14,620 mean earnings: $27,990 | $18,760 | $22,060 | $26,900 | $32,920 | $39,250 |
| Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers employment: 3,400 mean earnings: $29,650 | $19,160 | $23,560 | $28,720 | $34,830 | $42,610 |
| Retail Trade employment: 33,300 mean earnings: $26,940 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,130 | $21,330 | $26,070 | $31,680 | $37,210 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers employment: 9,810 mean earnings: $27,740 | $18,820 | $22,030 | $26,710 | $32,610 | $38,640 |
| Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores employment: 1,970 mean earnings: $25,480 | $16,130 | $19,830 | $24,610 | $29,790 | $36,150 |
| Electronics and Appliance Stores employment: 1,360 mean earnings: $28,390 | $19,220 | $22,810 | $26,920 | $32,750 | $40,090 |
| Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers employment: 3,570 mean earnings: $26,450 | $18,780 | $21,200 | $25,560 | $30,700 | $35,530 |
| Food and Beverage Stores employment: 2,670 mean earnings: $25,070 | $16,560 | $19,900 | $23,960 | $28,570 | $35,090 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 6,440 mean earnings: $27,070 | $18,080 | $21,580 | $26,430 | $32,070 | $37,090 |
| Gasoline Stations employment: 690 mean earnings: $25,710 | $15,550 | $20,620 | $26,450 | $31,170 | $34,370 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores employment: n.a. mean earnings: $25,680 | $17,110 | $20,270 | $24,450 | $29,310 | $36,920 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book, and Music Stores employment: 750 mean earnings: $27,280 | $17,400 | $21,010 | $26,220 | $32,850 | $39,540 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers employment: 2,190 mean earnings: $25,590 | $16,060 | $19,390 | $25,000 | $30,230 | $36,550 |
| Nonstore Retailers employment: 3,090 mean earnings: $28,290 | $19,260 | $22,910 | $27,350 | $33,010 | $39,630 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 21,180 mean earnings: $28,650 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,170 | $22,750 | $27,310 | $33,580 | $41,140 |
| Air Transportation employment: 410 mean earnings: $32,120 | $23,100 | $25,920 | $31,150 | $36,880 | $44,900 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 340 mean earnings: $33,970 | $19,610 | $22,650 | $33,840 | $42,750 | $52,850 |
| Water Transportation employment: 180 mean earnings: $31,560 | $22,000 | $25,320 | $29,670 | $35,020 | $45,920 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 11,190 mean earnings: $27,670 | $19,100 | $22,410 | $26,690 | $32,400 | $38,320 |
| Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation employment: 870 mean earnings: $27,060 | $18,590 | $21,260 | $26,230 | $32,150 | $38,620 |
| Pipeline Transportation employment: 40 mean earnings: $37,230 | $20,640 | $24,300 | $35,790 | $50,140 | $55,480 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation employment: 30 mean earnings: $26,410 | $12,600 | $14,650 | $26,100 | $35,540 | $43,900 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 5,350 mean earnings: $30,570 | $19,480 | $23,830 | $28,760 | $35,540 | $45,480 |
| Couriers and Messengers employment: 800 mean earnings: $27,560 | $18,720 | $21,180 | $26,550 | $32,890 | $38,850 |
| Warehousing and Storage employment: 1,960 mean earnings: $27,950 | $19,040 | $22,660 | $26,910 | $32,670 | $37,910 |
| Information employment: 11,290 mean earnings: $30,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,210 | $23,380 | $28,660 | $35,500 | $43,500 |
| Publishing Industries (except Internet) employment: 3,800 mean earnings: $28,510 | $19,030 | $22,590 | $27,230 | $33,680 | $40,860 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries employment: 190 mean earnings: $29,820 | $16,460 | $23,700 | $28,870 | $35,400 | $44,570 |
| Broadcasting (except Internet) employment: 1,560 mean earnings: $28,900 | $18,620 | $22,960 | $27,590 | $34,290 | $41,880 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting employment: 70 mean earnings: $32,380 | $24,130 | $27,140 | $31,990 | $36,310 | $42,620 |
| Telecommunications employment: 3,350 mean earnings: $33,570 | $19,980 | $25,810 | $32,540 | $39,510 | $47,700 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 2,250 mean earnings: $28,730 | $19,350 | $22,560 | $27,340 | $33,830 | $41,420 |
| Other Information Services employment: 70 mean earnings: $26,800 | $16,990 | $20,120 | $25,380 | $32,790 | $39,650 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 27,330 mean earnings: $29,850 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,880 | $23,890 | $28,680 | $34,690 | $42,130 |
| Monetary Authorities - Central Bank employment: 130 mean earnings: $31,990 | $18,960 | $25,000 | $31,130 | $40,010 | $47,510 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 10,360 mean earnings: $27,380 | $18,430 | $21,790 | $26,610 | $32,410 | $37,080 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 1,060 mean earnings: $38,110 | $23,570 | $28,680 | $35,190 | $43,600 | $57,810 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 15,100 mean earnings: $30,880 | $21,220 | $24,970 | $29,820 | $35,510 | $42,960 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 670 mean earnings: $31,130 | $23,160 | $25,240 | $28,520 | $35,370 | $44,410 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 7,570 mean earnings: $29,030 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,330 | $23,270 | $27,660 | $34,010 | $41,660 |
| Real Estate employment: 3,190 mean earnings: $29,780 | $19,320 | $24,200 | $28,130 | $34,350 | $43,800 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 4,320 mean earnings: $28,420 | $19,320 | $22,570 | $27,220 | $33,710 | $40,370 |
| Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) employment: 60 mean earnings: $31,860 | $24,090 | $26,910 | $31,270 | $36,930 | $43,160 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 42,310 mean earnings: $30,200 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,660 | $23,340 | $28,560 | $35,330 | $43,900 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 42,310 mean earnings: $30,200 | $19,660 | $23,340 | $28,560 | $35,330 | $43,900 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 19,140 mean earnings: $30,250 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,360 | $24,340 | $29,110 | $35,000 | $42,460 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 19,140 mean earnings: $30,250 | $20,360 | $24,340 | $29,110 | $35,000 | $42,460 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 28,910 mean earnings: $27,820 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,630 | $22,130 | $26,880 | $32,910 | $38,940 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 27,270 mean earnings: $27,760 | $18,610 | $22,080 | $26,800 | $32,840 | $38,910 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 1,640 mean earnings: $28,790 | $19,060 | $23,140 | $28,290 | $33,810 | $39,500 |
| Educational Services employment: 6,330 mean earnings: $29,650 (EC) (def) (IG) | $20,000 | $23,930 | $28,410 | $34,490 | $40,990 |
| Educational Services employment: 6,330 mean earnings: $29,650 | $20,000 | $23,930 | $28,410 | $34,490 | $40,990 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 193,500 mean earnings: $28,720 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,760 | $23,460 | $27,810 | $33,460 | $39,300 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 138,860 mean earnings: $28,930 | $19,790 | $23,540 | $27,980 | $33,690 | $39,950 |
| Hospitals employment: 44,440 mean earnings: $28,140 | $19,810 | $23,380 | $27,430 | $32,730 | $37,050 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 4,610 mean earnings: $30,020 | $20,010 | $23,770 | $28,470 | $34,810 | $42,920 |
| Social Assistance employment: 5,590 mean earnings: $27,090 | $18,480 | $21,840 | $26,470 | $31,820 | $36,310 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 1,370 mean earnings: $28,100 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,160 | $22,530 | $27,300 | $33,450 | $39,700 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 1,180 mean earnings: $28,660 | $19,100 | $23,290 | $27,780 | $33,850 | $40,210 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 2,800 mean earnings: $26,760 (EC) (def) (IG) | $17,160 | $20,860 | $25,990 | $31,740 | $36,900 |
| Accommodation employment: 1,700 mean earnings: $26,880 | $17,880 | $21,100 | $25,930 | $31,610 | $37,160 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: 1,100 mean earnings: $26,580 | $16,300 | $20,370 | $26,090 | $31,910 | $36,580 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 8,510 mean earnings: $29,170 (EC) (def) (IG) | $18,810 | $22,850 | $28,080 | $34,550 | $42,090 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 4,270 mean earnings: $28,590 | $18,560 | $22,340 | $27,170 | $33,750 | $41,890 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 250 mean earnings: $24,010 | $15,270 | $18,870 | $23,450 | $28,280 | $34,370 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 3,980 mean earnings: $30,110 | $19,390 | $23,910 | $29,700 | $35,380 | $42,610 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 17,680 mean earnings: $28,150 (def) (IG) | $18,250 | $21,830 | $27,410 | $33,870 | $40,440 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 17,680 mean earnings: $28,150 | $18,250 | $21,830 | $27,410 | $33,870 | $40,440 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.