Counter and Rental Clerks
Machines can already do 50% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 73%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Counter and Rental Clerks in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 50% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 20% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 73% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 400,810 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $41,300 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 88% for contact with people.
- Also called: Counter Clerk, Counter Service Representative, Leasing Consultant, Rental Agent.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute charges for merchandise or services and receive payments | 20% | 45% to 66% | |
| Receive orders for services, such as rentals, repairs, dry cleaning, and storage | 8% | 65% to 92% | |
| Greet customers and discuss the type, quality, and quantity of merchandise sought for rental | 8% | 32% to 60% | |
| Answer telephones to provide information and receive orders | 8% | 42% to 62% | |
| Rent items, arrange for provision of services to customers, and accept returns | 8% | 20% to 60% | |
| Explain rental fees, policies, and procedures | 6% | 77% to 87% | |
| Provide information about rental items, such as availability, operation, or description | 6% | 83% to 87% | |
| Prepare rental forms, obtaining customer signature and other information, such as required licenses | 6% | 70% to 95% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills counter and rental clerks use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Telephone Operators70% of tasks by 2035 · US median $41,740
- Concierges62% of tasks by 2035 · US median $38,950
- Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks69% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,070
- Baristas63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $31,200
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Counter and Rental Clerks?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of counter and rental clerks?
Machines can do 50% of the tasks of counter and rental clerks today and 73% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 41-2021.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Counter and Rental Clerks: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/counter-and-rental-clerks/