Overview

Category:administrative
Median Salary:$34,000
Education Required:high-school
Growth Outlook:stable
Student Interaction:administrative

Key Responsibilities

  • Record daily attendance
  • Contact parents about absences
  • Maintain attendance records
  • Generate attendance reports
  • Coordinate with truancy officer
  • Process early dismissals and late arrivals

A Day in the Life

  • Morning attendance collection
  • Parent phone calls for absences
  • Update attendance system
  • Process excused/unexcused absences
  • Prepare attendance letters
  • Coordinate with teachers on attendance
  • Monthly attendance reports

Education & Certification Path

1
High school diploma
2
Data entry experience
3
Basic computer skills
4
Attention to detail

Required Certifications

  • Background clearance
  • Student information system training
  • FERPA compliance training

Career Progression

Office Aide → Attendance Clerk
Lead Attendance Clerk
Registrar
School Secretary

Work Environment

School office with computer workstation and phone

Typical Schedule

7:00 AM - 3:30 PM school days

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an attendance clerk do?

An attendance clerk tracks and records daily student attendance, contacts parents about absences, processes early dismissals and late arrivals, maintains attendance records in the school information system, generates attendance reports for administrators, and coordinates with the truancy officer when students have excessive absences.

How much does an attendance clerk make?

Attendance clerks earn between $28,000 and $42,000 per year, with a median salary of $34,000. Pay varies by district size and location. Larger urban districts tend to pay more, and clerks with experience in student information systems like PowerSchool or Infinite Campus may earn toward the higher end of the range.

What are the duties of a school attendance clerk?

Daily duties include collecting attendance from each classroom, making phone calls to parents of absent students, updating the student information system, processing excused and unexcused absence documentation, preparing attendance letters for chronically absent students, coordinating with teachers on attendance discrepancies, and generating monthly attendance reports for administration.