Office Clerks, General
Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.
Also called: Administrative Clerk (Admin Clerk) · Clerical Aide · Clerical Assistant · Clerk · General Clerk · Office Assistant
Median pay (national)
$43,630
$29,120–$63,840 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
2,510,550
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-6.7%
~282,400 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for office clerks, general shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $63,840 versus $29,120 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $43,630 leaves roughly 46% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -6.7% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 282,400 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Colorado pays the most for this role (median $56,150, +29% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $23,140 — a 143% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Google Workspace software, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.
- Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities.
- Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints.
- Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer.
- Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.
- Complete work schedules, manage calendars, and arrange appointments.
- Deliver messages and run errands.
- Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages.
- Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests.
- Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports.
Tools & technology
- Google Workspace software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe InDesign
- Henry Schein Dentrix
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Windows
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- SAP software
- Yardi software
- 3M Post-it App
Knowledge areas
- Administrative
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- Public Safety and Security