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Healthcare
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, HCA Healthcare
Office Clerks, General
Office clerks keep everyday office work moving by sorting records, handling mail, answering phones, updating files, and helping coworkers and customers with routine questions. The job is defined by constant switching between small tasks and interruptions, which makes it easy to enter but also repetitive and increasingly exposed to software that can automate parts of the work.
Also known as Office ClerkGeneral ClerkClerical AssistantAdministrative ClerkOffice Support Specialist
Median Salary
$43,630
Mean $45,470
U.S. Workforce
~2.5M
282.4K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+-6.7%
2646K to 2468.2K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Office Clerks, General sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~2.5M workers, with a median annual pay of $43,630 and roughly 282.4K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to decline from 2646 K in 2024 to 2468.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Office Assistant and can progress toward Office Manager. High-value skills usually include Microsoft Word, Excel & Outlook, Working with Computers, and Document Management & Filing Systems, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Organize paper and digital records, keep files up to date, and make copies when needed.
- Use office tools like computers, scanners, copiers, fax machines, and voicemail systems to handle routine paperwork and messages.
- Answer calls and questions from customers and coworkers, pass along information, and help resolve basic problems or complaints.
- Set up calendars, book appointments, and keep daily schedules on track.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Organize paper and digital records, keep files up to date, and make copies when needed.
02 Use office tools like computers, scanners, copiers, fax machines, and voicemail systems to handle routine paperwork and messages.
03 Answer calls and questions from customers and coworkers, pass along information, and help resolve basic problems or complaints.
04 Set up calendars, book appointments, and keep daily schedules on track.
05 Sort incoming mail, route it to the right person, and prepare outgoing mail and correspondence.
06 Deliver messages and run small errands around the office when something needs to move quickly.
Industries That Hire
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Education
University of California, Arizona State University, New York University
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Government
State of California, City of Chicago, U.S. Postal Service
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Finance
Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo
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Logistics and Transportation
UPS, FedEx, DHL
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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It is one of the easiest office jobs to enter because the usual requirement is a high school diploma, no prior experience, and short-term on-the-job training.
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The job market is huge, with about 2.51 million workers and 282.4 thousand annual openings, so there are many employers hiring for similar work.
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The skills transfer across industries, so the same basic clerical experience can apply in healthcare, schools, government, finance, and retail.
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You learn practical office systems quickly, including mail handling, records, phones, calendars, and common software used by most workplaces.
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It can be a steady stepping-stone into better-paying administrative, coordination, or operations jobs if you use the role to build experience.
Challenges
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Pay is modest for full-time work, with a median annual salary of $43,630 and a mean of $45,470.
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The job outlook is weak: employment is projected to fall 6.7% by 2034, which means about 177.8 thousand fewer jobs than in the earlier projection.
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A lot of the work is repetitive, with long stretches spent filing, answering phones, routing mail, and entering the same kinds of information over and over.
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The role is vulnerable to automation and self-service tools because scanners, databases, scheduling software, and online forms can replace parts of the work employers once assigned to clerks.
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There is a career ceiling if you stay in the same title too long, since the job is built around routine support work rather than specialized expertise.
Career Progression
Office Assistant
0-1 years
$30K-$36K
New workers handle copying, filing, mail, and simple data entry while learning the office’s systems and routines.
General Office Clerk
1-4 years
$38K-$50K
This is the core role, balancing records, phones, scheduling, mail, and customer questions across a typical workday.
Senior Office Clerk THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$51K-$62K
Experienced clerks take on more complex records, train newer staff, and keep multiple administrative tasks organized at once.
Administrative Coordinator
8-12 years
$63K-$78K
Work becomes more about coordinating calendars, tracking office processes, and keeping teams organized across departments.
Office Manager
12+ years
$79K-$98K
At this level, the focus shifts to supervising office operations, setting procedures, and solving problems before they interrupt the day.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
The most common entry point, held by 40.59% of workers in this role.
Associate degree in office administration or a related field
A common alternative route, held by 36.41% of workers in this role, especially for applicants who want stronger computer and office skills before applying.
Post-secondary certificate in office administration, clerical support, or bookkeeping
A smaller but realistic path, held by 6.52% of workers in this role, and useful for people who want a quicker credential with typing, spreadsheet, and scheduling practice.
Some college courses or short-term administrative training
An alternate route, held by 14.74% of workers in this role, for candidates who have office experience but not a finished degree.
Key Skills
Technical
Microsoft Word, Excel & Outlook 82%
Working with Computers 85%
Document Management & Filing Systems 78%
Office Equipment: Copiers, Scanners & Fax Machines 74%
Calendar, Scheduling & Mail-Tracking Software 72%
Phone Systems & Voicemail Routing 70%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingCoordinationService Orientation Job Outlook and Trends
+-6.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
282.4K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 2646K to 2468.2 K over the next decade, representing -6.7% growth. Around 282.4 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.