Mid-Level

General Clerk

General clerks handle a broad mix of office clerical work — data entry, filing, correspondence, and the routine processing tasks that keep records flowing.

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
Job markets for General Clerks
Employment concentration · ~390 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a General Clerk

Workdays follow a steady processing rhythm with periodic interruptions for walk-ups or urgent requests. The mix shifts depending on what's in the queue. Many general clerks describe the variety as the appeal — different tasks day to day without the stress of strategic decisions or customer escalations.

Collaboration is usually brief and broad, with short interactions across the office. What's harder than expected is catching errors in repetitive work — fatigue makes mistakes easier, and the most common errors are the ones you've made successfully a thousand times before.

People who thrive tend to be steady, organized, and patient with routine. If you find satisfaction in clean throughput, the role often suits you. People who need creative challenge or visible accomplishment usually find the work too repetitive — but for those who like the rhythm of focused processing, it's often a comfortable home.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

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

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all General Clerks (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.
Exploring the General Clerk career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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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 this category is changing

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

Skills & Requirements

Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingWritingSocial PerceptivenessTime ManagementCritical ThinkingService OrientationCoordinationMonitoring
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-9061.00

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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.