Career comparison
Office Clerk vs. Office Machine Operator
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Office clerks earn more at the median ($45,010 vs. $40,960), while office clerks usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Office clerks handle the everyday tasks that keep an office running. Office machine operators run copiers, printers and binding machines for offices and print centers.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Office Clerk | Office Machine Operator | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $45,010 ($21.64/hr) | $40,960 ($19.69/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $30,310 – $64,680 | $31,750 – $57,960 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -6.0% (a projected decline) | -14.9% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 249,000 | 2,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | A few weeks on the job | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | Microsoft Office Specialist | Equipment training |
| Work setting | Office clerks work in nearly every kind of office.. | Operators work in copy centers, print rooms and office reprographics departments.. |
What each job does
Office Clerk
- Answer phones
- Greet visitors
- Type documents
- File records
- Enter data
Office Machine Operator
- Run copiers and printers
- Bind and finish documents
- Cut and fold paper
- Scan documents
- Fill print orders
How they’re similar
Both careers involve steady routines and indoor work. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose office clerk if…
- I like variety
- I’m organized
- I’m friendly
Choose office machine operator if…
- I like machines
- I’m accurate
- I like hands-on work
Still torn? Take the Office Clerk fit quiz and the Office Machine Operator fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, office clerk or office machine operator?
Office Clerks earn more at the median: $45,010 versus $40,960 for office machine operators, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Office Clerks typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than office machine operators (A few weeks on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects office clerks to grow -6.0% from 2025–35, compared with -14.9% for office machine operators.