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Careers›Roles›Clerical Assistant
Mid-Level

Clerical Assistant

Clerical assistants handle a wide mix of clerical tasks — data entry, filing, scheduling, correspondence — supporting whoever or whatever in the office needs it that day.

Clerical Assistant pay typically runs $35K–$53K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to shrink 7% through 2034.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
S
R
I
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Clerical Assistants
Education · 12%Healthcare · 12%Construction · 10%Government · 10%Administrative Services · 8%Professional Services · 8%
Job markets for Clerical Assistants
Where Clerical Assistant jobs concentrate · ~390 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Admin & Office
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers

While you’re learning about the Clerical Assistant role, anything we can help you with this week?

What it's like

What it's like to be a Clerical Assistant

A typical day blends assigned work — your regular tasks — with whatever comes up that day. The variety can feel energizing or scattered depending on the week, and good days are when you can finish your standing tasks and still help with the unexpected. Many assistants quietly become the office's informal reference desk for "where does this go?" and "do you remember when we last did X?"

Collaboration usually involves a broad set of internal contacts, often briefly. What surprises some people is how much institutional knowledge the role accumulates over time — you'll know things nobody else does because you've been the one filing it for years. That knowledge tends to be undervalued in the moment and only visible when you're out.

People who thrive tend to be flexible, organized, and helpful by nature. If you don't mind your day being defined by what others need rather than your own agenda, the rhythm here often fits. People who want ownership of substantial projects or visible accomplishment usually find the role too service-oriented — but the breadth tends to translate well into broader roles later.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

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Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Energy & Utilities$84K+67%
Professional Services$83K+64%
Technology & Information$79K+58%
Financial Services$77K+53%
Government$69K+37%
Compared to Admin & Office average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Clerical Assistants (SOC 43-9061.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Admin & Office →
Clerical AssistantCirculation ClerkWeather ClerkAnimal Shelter ClerkOffice Services SpecialistCar DistributorTelegraph Service ClerkAnimal Hospital ClerkOffice ClerkData Examination ClerkChart ClerkGeneral Office ClerkClerical Dentist AssistantBlood Donor Unit AssistantLaboratory ClerkGreige Goods MarkerBlood Bank Credit ClerkAdministration ClerkTrip FollowerMarketing ClerkAuction AssistantTrace ClerkField AssistantCongressional District AideFloor Clerk+1 more

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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$29K–$64K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
2.5M
U.S. Employment
-6.7%
10yr Growth
282K
Annual Openings

How Clerical Assistant pay & employment are changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingService OrientationTime ManagementCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationMonitoring
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
43-9061.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midCirculation Clerk$40KmidWeather Clerk$44KmidAnimal Shelter Clerk$44KmidOffice Services Specialist$44KmidCar Distributor$56KmidTelegraph Service Clerk$44K
View all Admin & Office roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Clerical Assistant

What does a Clerical Assistant do?

Clerical assistants handle a wide mix of clerical tasks — data entry, filing, scheduling, correspondence — supporting whoever or whatever in the office needs it that day.

How much does a Clerical Assistant make?

Median pay for a Clerical Assistant is about $44K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $29K to $64K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Clerical Assistant need?

Core skills for this role include Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, and Service Orientation.

What education do you need to be a Clerical Assistant?

Most people in this role hold a high school diploma.

Is a Clerical Assistant in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to decline about 6.7% through 2034, with roughly 2.5 million people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Clerical Assistant?

Closely related roles include Circulation Clerk, Weather Clerk, and Animal Shelter Clerk.

Career advice

Clerical Assistant career advice

Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.

  • ConversationLearn what the people you work with need from you, and to tell them what you need.Ask what success looks like to them
  • Simple exerciseGet unstuck faster by making help quick to give.Ask for help that's easy to give
  • Simple exerciseSee a company the way its own people do, before you ask to join it.Understand a company before you apply
  • ConversationUnderstand where your group is headed, from the person helping set the direction.Ask for a skip-level conversation

Swipe for more

More career advice

  • Say where you're behind, and ask for help
  • Keep your receipts somewhere you own
  • Ask for input before you decide
  • Say you don't know yet, then find out
  • Know your walk-away point
  • Ask for the why before you start
  • Send a thank-you that shows you listened
  • Learn how each person likes to work

We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.

Browse career advice

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.

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