### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

General Office Clerks Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			general office clerks imageGeneral office clerks perform a variety of administrative tasks, such as copying and scanning documents.							
						Quick Facts:     General Office Clerks2023     Median Pay
            						$40,480     per year
										$19.46     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    2,668,200Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    -7% (Decline)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    -175,400What General Office Clerks Do
                                                
                        
                        
General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Although general office clerks are employed in nearly every industry, many work in schools, healthcare facilities, and government offices.
            
                                                How to Become a General Office Clerk
                                                
                        
General office clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. Most learn their skills on the job.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for general office clerks was $19.46 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of general office clerks is projected to decline							 7 percent from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite declining  employment, about 290,100 openings for general office clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for general office clerks.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of general office clerks with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about general office clerks by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What General Office Clerks Do 
            

			General office clerksGeneral office clerks type, format, or edit routine memos.			
General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.
Duties
General office clerks typically do the following:
Answer and transfer telephone calls or take messages
Sort and deliver incoming mail and send outgoing mail
Schedule appointments and receive customers or visitors
Provide general information to staff, clients, or the public
Type, format, or edit routine memos or other reports
Copy, file, and update paper and electronic documents
Prepare and process bills and other office documents
Collect information and perform data entryRather than performing a single specialized task, general office clerks have responsibilities that often change daily with the current needs of the employer.
Some clerks file documents or answer phones; others enter data into computers or perform other tasks using software applications. They also frequently use photocopiers, scanners, fax machines, and other office equipment.
The specific duties assigned to clerks will depend on the type of office in which they work. For example, a general office clerk at a college or university may process application materials and answer questions from prospective students, while a clerk at a hospital may file and retrieve medical records.
 Work Environment
			General office clerksGeneral office clerks work in offices.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 General office clerks held about 2.7 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of general office clerks were as follows:
        Healthcare and social assistance
                11%Educational services; state, local, and private
                11Government
                10Construction
                9Professional, scientific, and technical services
                8General office clerks usually work in office settings.
Work Schedules
Most general office clerks work full time.
 How to Become a General Office Clerk

			General office clerksGeneral office clerks usually need a high school diploma or equivalent.			
General office clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation and learn their skills on the job.
Education
General office clerks usually need a high school diploma or equivalent. Some clerks have a bachelor's degree in fields such as business, social science, and psychology.
Courses in using computer applications, such as word processing and spreadsheet software, may be helpful for those who aren’t already familiar with them.
Training
General office clerks usually learn their skills while on the job. Their training typically lasts up to 1 month and may include instructions on office procedures, proper phone etiquette, and the use of office equipment.
Advancement
General office clerks may advance to other administrative positions with more responsibility, such as secretaries and administrative assistants.
Advancement opportunities often depend on work experience.
Important Qualities
***Customer-service skills.*** General office clerks often provide general information to company staff, customers, or the public. They should be courteous and prompt with their responses.
***Detail oriented.*** General office clerks perform many clerical tasks that require attention to detail, such as preparing bills.
***Organizational skills.*** General office clerks file and retrieve records. They need to keep records organized to be able to access them quickly and efficiently.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                General Office ClerksMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Office and administrative support occupations$21.39   Office clerks, general$19.46Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for general office clerks was $19.46 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.57, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $29.66.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median hourly wages for general office clerks in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Government
                $21.51Construction
                21.07Professional, scientific, and technical services
                20.12Healthcare and social assistance
                18.83Educational services; state, local, and private
                18.49Most general office clerks work full time.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                General Office ClerksPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Office and administrative support occupations-6%  Office clerks, general-7%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of general office clerks is projected to decline				 7 percent from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite declining  employment, about 290,100 openings for general office clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
The continued use of technology that automates document preparation and other clerical tasks, such as automated phone systems, will result in fewer general office clerks needed to perform this work. In addition, electronic filing systems and file sharing software allow other office workers to do the tasks previously done by general office clerks, further decreasing employment of office clerks. However, there will still be some sustained demand for these workers to handle administrative tasks.
			

                        Employment projections data for     general office clerks, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Office clerks, general**
			43-9061
			2,668,200
			2,492,800
			-7
			-175,400
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Office clerks, general **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of general office clerks. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks**
            Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks produce financial records for organizations and check financial records for accuracy.
            Some college, no degree
            $47,440**Customer Service Representatives**
            Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and answer questions.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $39,680**Information Clerks**
            Information clerks perform routine clerical duties, maintain records, collect data, and provide information to customers.
            See How to Become One
            $40,540**Material Recording Clerks**
            Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $44,210**Receptionists**
            Receptionists do tasks such as answering phones, receiving visitors, and providing information about their organization to the public.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $35,840**Secretaries and Administrative Assistants**
            Secretaries and administrative assistants do routine clerical and organizational tasks.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $46,010
 Contacts for More Information
								
The *Handbook* does not have contacts for more information for this occupation.

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Office Clerks, General
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, General Office Clerks, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/general-office-clerks.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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