Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Sales and Related

Counter and Rental Clerks

Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.

Also called: Counter Clerk, Counter Service Representative, Leasing Consultant, Rental Agent, Rental Assistant, Rental Associate

Median pay in Greater Boston
$45,510
$21.88/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
6,030
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+3.5%
660 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
No formal educational credential
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$35,380$39,010$45,510$54,430$65,560

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments.
  • Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage.
  • Explain rental fees, policies, and procedures.
  • Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description.
  • Advise customers on use and care of merchandise.
  • Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure66 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 49
  • Language-model AIOE 51
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 97

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for counter and rental clerks is moderate, and observed AI use is already substantial. AI tools can help with figuring charges, taking orders, and answering questions about fees and rental items. Advising customers on how to use and care for items, and helping people in person, still rely on workers. Massachusetts job growth is projected to be modest.

Likely to change

  • Computing charges and taking orders
  • Answering questions about fees and availability

Still relies on people

  • Advising customers on use and care
  • Helping people face to face

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Parts Salespersons

    Taking payments, helping customers, and filling orders carry over, with similar pay and lower AI exposure.

    Pay difference
    +$860 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +3.6%
    To get started
    No formal educational credential

  • Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping

    Keeping accurate records of items and quantities carries over, and this job offers slightly higher pay and faster projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$2,240 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +9.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

    Knowing how equipment works and helping people use it carry over, and this job pays more with moderate on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$14,160 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach