What Does a File Clerk Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does a file clerk do?

File clerks keep file systems organized, file and retrieve documents, and scan and index records. The median pay is $43,600 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks on the job, and employment is projected to grow -15.8% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$43,600
$20.96/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-15.8%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
5,600
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
BLS classification
Time to train
A few weeks on the job
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
76,200
Employment, 2025

What file clerks do

File clerks keep records organized. They file and retrieve paper and electronic documents, scan and index records, maintain filing systems, pull files for staff, and follow retention rules. They work in hospitals, law firms, government offices and insurance companies.

A high school diploma and short on-the-job training are typical. BLS projects a decline as records go digital.

Typical duties

File documents
Retrieve records
Scan and index files
Maintain filing systems
Track checked-out files
Follow retention rules
Purge old records

Work environment and schedule

File clerks work in offices and records rooms.

Schedule: Full or part time, business hours.

A day in the life

8:00 AMFile yesterday’s documents.
9:00 AMPull charts for appointments.
10:30 AMScan and index records.
12:00 PMTrack down a missing file.

See a full day in the life of a file clerk →

File Clerk salary

Half of file clerks earned more than $43,600 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $31,200 for the lowest 10% to $63,490 for the top 10%.

$31,20010th$43,600Median$63,49090th

Full file clerk pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a file clerk

Finish high school
Build office skills
Get hired
Learn the system
Advance

A high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training are typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a file clerk →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Filing systems
Scanning and indexing
Records retention
Data entry
Document management software

People skills

Organization
Attention to detail
Reliability
Discretion

All file clerk skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

No degree needed
Short training
Quiet work
Steady tasks

Cons

Declining employment
Repetitive
Lifting boxes
Low pay

Certifications and licenses

Records management course: Helpful.
Office skills certificate: Helpful.
HIPAA training: For healthcare.
CRM: Certified Records Manager, later.

Career path

File Clerk: Entry.
Records Specialist: Lead filing.
Records Supervisor: Lead team.
Records Manager: Run records.

Learn the job before day one

Our File Clerk training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as file alphabetically without errors and scan and index a batch of records, safety and how to land your first job.

View File Clerk training Is this career right for me?

Office Clerk

Handle the everyday tasks that keep an office running.

$45,010
A few weeks on the job

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

Translate medical records into codes and claims so providers get paid correctly.

$51,140
4–12 months

Data Entry Clerk

Type information into computer systems quickly and accurately.

$41,340
A few weeks on the job

Library Assistant

Check out books, help patrons and keep the library running.

$36,910
A few weeks on the job

Compare: File Clerk vs. Office Clerk · File Clerk vs. Medical Coder · File Clerk vs. Data Entry Clerk · File Clerk vs. Library Assistant

File Clerk FAQ

Is filing still a job?

Yes, though BLS projects decline as records go digital.

Do file clerks need a degree?

No.

Where do they work?

Hospitals, law firms, government and insurers.

How much does a file clerk make?

The median annual wage for file clerks was $43,600 ($20.96 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $31,200 and the highest 10% earned more than $63,490.

How long does it take to become a file clerk?

Most people need about A few weeks on the job of training. A high school diploma and short-term on-the-job training are typical.

Do you need a degree to be a file clerk?

No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus short-term on-the-job training.

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 43-4071 (File clerks).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for File clerks (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

File Clerk