What Does an Office Clerk Do? Duties, Pay & Outlook

What does an office clerk do?

Office clerks, general, perform a variety of clerical duties such as answering phones, typing, filing and data entry. The median pay is $45,010 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about A few weeks on the job, and employment is projected to grow -6.0% from 2025–35.

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

Median pay
$45,010
$21.64/hour · May 2025
Job growth
-6.0%
2025–35, a projected decline
Openings per year
249,000
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
2,600,000
Employment, 2025

What office clerks do

Office clerks do a bit of everything. They answer phones, greet visitors, type and file documents, enter data, order supplies, sort mail and help coworkers. It is one of the largest jobs in the country, with about 2.6 million positions.

A high school diploma and short training are typical. BLS projects a decline, but huge size means many openings from turnover.

Typical duties

Answer phones
Greet visitors
Type documents
File records
Enter data
Order supplies
Sort mail

Work environment and schedule

Office clerks work in nearly every kind of office.

Schedule: Full or part time, business hours.

A day in the life

8:00 AMOpen the office.
8:30 AMAnswer phones and emails.
10:00 AMEnter invoices.
11:30 AMFile documents.

See a full day in the life of an office clerk →

Office Clerk salary

Half of office clerks earned more than $45,010 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $30,310 for the lowest 10% to $64,680 for the top 10%.

$30,31010th$45,010Median$64,68090th

Full office clerk pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become an office clerk

Finish high school
Learn Microsoft Office
Get hired
Learn the office
Advance

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

Step-by-step guide to becoming an office clerk →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Typing
Data entry
Filing
Phone skills
Microsoft Office

People skills

Reliability
Friendliness
Organization
Flexibility

All office clerk skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Many openings
Short training
Variety of tasks
Entry to office careers

Cons

Declining employment
Low pay
Interruptions
Repetitive at times

Certifications and licenses

Microsoft Office Specialist: Office skills.
Office skills certificate: Community college.
Customer service training: Helpful.
CAP: Certified Administrative Professional, later.

Career path

Office Clerk: Entry.
Administrative Assistant: More responsibility.
Office Manager: Run the office.
Administrative Services Manager: Lead services.

Learn the job before day one

Our Office Clerk training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as prioritize a busy office day and answer a multi-line office phone, safety and how to land your first job.

View Office Clerk training Is this career right for me?

Administrative Assistant

Keep offices organized: calendars, communication, documents and logistics.

$47,540
Weeks to months

Receptionist

Greet visitors, answer phones and keep the front desk running smoothly.

$38,010
1–2 weeks on the job

Data Entry Clerk

Type information into computer systems quickly and accurately.

$41,340
A few weeks on the job

File Clerk

Organize, store and retrieve records so people can find them fast.

$43,600
A few weeks on the job

Compare: Office Clerk vs. Administrative Assistant · Office Clerk vs. Receptionist · Office Clerk vs. Data Entry Clerk · Office Clerk vs. File Clerk

Office Clerk FAQ

Do office clerks need a degree?

No.

Is the job declining?

BLS projects decline, but turnover creates many openings.

What’s the next step?

Administrative assistant or specialist roles.

How much does an office clerk make?

The median annual wage for office clerks was $45,010 ($21.64 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $30,310 and the highest 10% earned more than $64,680.

How long does it take to become an office 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 an office 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 43-9061 (Office clerks, general).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Office clerks, general (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.

Office Clerk