Office clerks handle the routine processing work of an office — paperwork, data entry, filing, copying, and the support tasks that keep records flowing.
Office Clerk pay typically runs $35K–$53K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to shrink 7% through 2034.
A typical day involves steady processing work with periodic interruptions. The mix shifts depending on what's in the queue. Most clerks settle into rhythms that feel like the steady background hum of the office — predictable enough to do well, varied enough to not feel mechanical.
Collaboration is usually brief and transactional — handoffs and quick questions. What's harder than expected is catching small 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, accurate, and patient with routine. If you find satisfaction in clean throughput, the role often suits you. People who need creative challenge or fast feedback usually find the role too quiet — but for those who like the rhythm of focused processing, it's often a comfortable home.
Don't know if you want to stay in your job?
Get your career on record. Then decide.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
It's your career.
Take the wheel.
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.
Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths
View all Admin & Office roles →Office clerks handle the routine processing work of an office — paperwork, data entry, filing, copying, and the support tasks that keep records flowing.
Median pay for an Office Clerk is about $44K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $29K to $64K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, and Time Management.
Most people in this role hold a high school diploma.
Employment in this field is projected to decline about 6.7% through 2034, with roughly 2.5 million people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Charter, Real Estate Clerk, and Lost and Found Clerk.
Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.
More career advice
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 adviceStill figuring out what you want to become
when you grow up?