What Do Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks Do?

Billing Clerk Definition Compile data, compute fees and charges, and prepare invoices for billing purposes. Duties include computing costs and calculating rates for goods, services, and shipment of goods; posting data; and keeping other relevant records. May involve use of computer or typewriter, calculator, and adding and bookkeeping machines.

Daily Life Of a Billing Clerk

• Estimate market value of products or services.
• Consult sources such as rate books, manuals, or insurance company representatives to determine specific charges or information such as rules, regulations, or government tax and tariff information.
• Contact customers to obtain or relay account information.
• Perform bookkeeping work, including posting data or keeping other records concerning costs of goods or services or the shipment of goods.
• Review documents such as purchase orders, sales tickets, charge slips, or hospital records to compute fees or charges due.
• Review compiled data on operating costs and revenues to set rates.

Billing Clerk Required Skills

Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Related Job Titles for this Occupation:

• Toll Ticket Clerk
• Accounting Assistant
• Medical Insurance Coder
• Medical Billing Specialist
• Principal Account Clerk

Is There Going to be Demand for Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 501,000 jobs in the United States for Billing and Posting Clerks.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.1% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 70,700 new jobs for Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks by 2026. There will be an estimated 59,500 positions for Billing Clerk per year.

The states with the most job growth for Billing and Posting Clerks are Texas, California, and New York.

Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Vermont, or South Dakota. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

What is the Average Salary of a Billing Clerk

Billing and Posting Clerks Make between $26,840 and $55,500 a year. The median salary is $37,800.

How much do Billing and Posting Clerks make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
District of Columbia	$63,020
Alaska	$45,290
Connecticut	$45,180
Massachusetts	$44,550
California	$44,080
New York	$43,840
Washington	$43,360
Delaware	$42,780
New Jersey	$42,710
Minnesota	$42,060
Illinois	$41,980
Hawaii	$41,650
Oregon	$41,370
North Dakota	$41,120
Vermont	$41,110
Colorado	$41,060
New Hampshire	$41,050
Virginia	$40,570
Rhode Island	$40,210
Wyoming	$39,970
Maryland	$39,690
Pennsylvania	$39,050
Iowa	$38,810
Nevada	$38,800
Wisconsin	$38,490
Arizona	$38,250
Michigan	$37,850
Ohio	$37,840
Utah	$37,690
Texas	$37,620
Idaho	$37,470
Georgia	$37,400
North Carolina	$37,080
Maine	$37,000
Nebraska	$36,860
Tennessee	$36,710
Kansas	$36,600
Florida	$36,320
Indiana	$36,220
Missouri	$36,150
Montana	$35,870
South Carolina	$35,380
New Mexico	$35,290
Oklahoma	$34,900
Alabama	$34,760
Louisiana	$34,750
Kentucky	$34,550
Arkansas	$33,390
Mississippi	$32,680
West Virginia	$32,340
South Dakota	$31,990

What Tools do Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks:

• MEDITECH software
• Intuit QuickBooks
• Medical condition coding software
• NetSuite ERP
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Access
• Microsoft Word
• Epic Systems
• Microsoft Excel
• Medical procedure coding software

Becoming a Billing Clerk

What kind of Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerk requirements are there?

What work experience do I need to become a Billing Clerk?

Who Employs Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks?

You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks might also be interested in the following careers:

• Receptionists and Information Clerks
• Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service

Are you already one of the many Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Loan Interviewers and Clerks
• Municipal Clerks

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons