Career Descriptions: Billing, Posting Clerks And Machine Operators

A more common name for billing, posting clerks and machine operators is “billing clerks.” Responsibilities include:

• Compiling records of charges for services rendered or goods sold
• Calculating and recording the amounts of these services and goods
• Preparing invoices to be mailed to customers
• Reviewing purchase orders, sales tickets, hospital records or charge slips to calculate total amount due from customer
• Compute charges using calculators or computers
• Prepare itemized statements, bills or invoices used for billing and recordkeeping purposes
• Billing clerks may be asked to handle follow-up questions from customers and to resolve any discrepancies or errors. Any changes must be entered in the accounting records.

Employment opportunities include:

• All industries employ billing clerks
• Health care industry employs the most
• Wholesale and retail trade industries employ a large number of billing clerks
• Third-party billing companies (companies that provide billing services for other companies) such as tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services, office administrative and business support services
• Some work out of their home offices, mostly medical billing clerks

Billing clerks typically work 40 hours per week during regular business hours. About one in seven works part time.

Billing clerks use computers on a daily basis and may experience the following health problems:

• Eye and muscle strain
• Backaches
• Headaches
• Repetitive motion injuries

Typical Earnings:

The median hourly wage of billing and posting clerks and machine operators were $13 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $10.86 and $15.86. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.12, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $18.88.

Training, Other Qualifications and Advancement:

• At least a high school diploma
• Many employers prefer to hire workers who have completed some college courses or a degree
• Workers with an associate or bachelor’s degree are likely to start at higher wages and advance more easily than those without degrees
• Computer literacy and in particular those with experience in billing software programs
• On-the-job training is usually from a supervisor or senior worker
• Some formal classroom training may be necessary, such as training in the specific computer software used by the company

Personal characteristics include:

• being careful, orderly, and detail oriented with an aptitude for working with numbers in order to avoid making errors and to recognize errors made by others
• Discretion and trustworthiness because of frequent contact with confidential material. Medical billing clerks in particular need to understand and follow the regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), enacted to maintain the confidentiality of patient medical records.

Community and career colleges that offer certificate programs in medical billing usually cover basic biology, anatomy, and physiology in addition to training on coding and computer billing software.

Advancement is usually by taking on more duties in the same occupation for higher pay or by transferring to a closely related occupation. Most companies promote within their organization. Workers can improve their advancement opportunities by acquiring additional skills, experience and training. Some billing clerks may become accountants, human resource specialists or buyers.

Employment Growth and Outlook

Employment of billing and posting clerks and machine operators is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. Reasons may include:

• Bills will increasingly be delivered electronically over the Internet, and with much more sophisticated technology and software.
• The billing function is becoming increasingly automated and invoices and statements are automatically generated upon delivery of the service or shipment of goods.
• As the billing process becomes more simplified, other people within the organization, particularly accounting and bookkeeping clerks are taking on the billing function.
• There may be stronger growth in the health care industry that employs most of the billing clerks due to the complicated nature of medical billing. Growth will be limited as more hospitals and physicians’ offices use contract billing companies.
• Job openings may also occur as workers transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
• Turnover is relatively high, which is characteristic of an entry-level occupation that typically requires only a high school diploma.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Bill and Account Collectors, on the Internet.

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© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved