Mid-Level

Government Clerk

Government clerks handle clerical work in a government office — processing forms, maintaining records, and supporting the procedural work that government offices run on.

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 Government 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 Government Clerk

Each shift involves steady processing under specific procedural rules. Government work tends to be more rules-driven than private sector clerical work, with documentation requirements that matter for audit and compliance reasons. The procedural specificity is both a help (clear rules) and a frustration (rigid rules).

Collaboration involves other government staff, the public, and sometimes other agencies. What's harder than expected is the regulatory specificity — small procedural errors can have outsized consequences, and the public sometimes blames the clerk for outcomes they had no part in shaping.

People who thrive tend to be methodical, patient, and comfortable with rules-based work. If you find satisfaction in supporting public service and you don't mind the slower pace of government work, the role often suits you. People who need fast pace or who get frustrated by bureaucracy usually find government clerical work demoralizing — but the stability and benefits often draw and keep good people.

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 Government 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 Government Clerk career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ 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

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingWritingCoordinationSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationTime ManagementCritical ThinkingMonitoring
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-9061.00

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
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.