General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.
General office clerks typically do the following:
Rather 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.
General office clerks held about 2.8 million jobs in 2021. The largest employers of general office clerks were as follows:
| Healthcare and social assistance | 11% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 11 |
| Government | 10 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 8 |
| Administrative and support services | 8 |
General office clerks usually work in office settings.
Most general office clerks work full time.
General office clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation and learn their skills on the job.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Median hourly wages, May 2021
The median hourly wage for general office clerks was $17.81 in May 2021. 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 $11.30, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $28.31.
In May 2021, the median hourly wages for general office clerks in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Government | $18.23 |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 17.91 |
| Healthcare and social assistance | 17.74 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 17.44 |
| Administrative and support services | 17.24 |
Most general office clerks work full time.
Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31
Employment of general office clerks is projected to decline 5 percent from 2021 to 2031.
Despite declining employment, about 325,400 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.
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.
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | Employment by Industry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | ||||||
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program |
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Office clerks, general |
43-9061 | 2,751,800 | 2,621,100 | -5 | -130,800 | Get data | |
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