Counter and rental clerks
SOC Code: 41-2021
Counter and rental clerks carries a 42% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $38,540 and +3.2% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 408,200 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 42% AI exposure, Counter and rental clerks sits 5 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 73% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Counter and rental clerks sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Counter and rental clerks has ai exposure of 42%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Counter and rental clerks vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Counter and rental clerks is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Counter and rental clerks (SOC 41-2021) carries an AI exposure score of 42%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 408,200 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +3.2% change through 2034 - modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $38,540, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires No formal educational credential, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Counter and rental clerks. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.
- 2. Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.
- 3. Explain rental fees, policies, and procedures.
- 4. Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.
- 5. Advise customers on use and care of merchandise.
- 6. Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.
- 7. Answer telephones to provide information and receive orders.
- 8. Inspect and adjust rental items to meet needs of customer.
- 9. Prepare rental forms, obtaining customer signature and other information, such as required licenses.
- 10. Rent items, arrange for provision of services to customers, and accept returns.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Coordination
- Time Management
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Transportation
- Computers and Electronics
- Production and Processing
- Public Safety and Security
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Counter and rental clerks?
Counter and rental clerks has an AI exposure score of 42%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Counter and rental clerks?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Counter and rental clerks is projected to grow by 3.2% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 408,200 workers.
What skills are needed for Counter and rental clerks?
Key skills for Counter and rental clerks include Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, and others. Typical entry-level education is No formal educational credential.
How much do Counter and rental clerks earn?
The median annual wage for Counter and rental clerks is $38,540, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Counter and rental clerks?
The typical entry-level education for Counter and rental clerks is No formal educational credential. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Counter and rental clerks?
Counter and rental clerks roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
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Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).