What is an Office Clerk?
Career Description Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, stenography, office machine operation, and filing.
Office Clerk Responsibilities
- Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.
- Troubleshoot problems involving office equipment, such as computer hardware and software.
- Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.
- Count, weigh, measure, or organize materials.
- Inventory and order materials, supplies, and services.
- Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports.
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Office Clerk Skills
When polled, Office Clerks say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- General Office Worker
- Election Clerk
- Admissions Evaluator
- Press Clippings Cutter and Paster
- Congressional District Aide
Office Clerk Job Outlook
There were about 3,117,700 jobs for Office Clerk in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Office Clerk. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 356,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Office Clerk are Utah, Colorado, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Office Clerk Salary
The typical yearly salary for Office Clerks is somewhere between $20,470 and $53,510.

Office Clerks who work in Alaska, District of Columbia, or Colorado, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Office Clerks in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $25,800 |
Alaska | $46,250 |
Arizona | $37,730 |
Arkansas | $30,020 |
California | $38,060 |
Colorado | $40,840 |
Connecticut | $38,340 |
Delaware | $30,370 |
District of Columbia | $45,140 |
Florida | $32,920 |
Georgia | $30,590 |
Hawaii | $34,050 |
Idaho | $31,520 |
Illinois | $37,220 |
Indiana | $33,510 |
Iowa | $35,130 |
Kansas | $29,360 |
Kentucky | $29,520 |
Louisiana | $25,460 |
Maine | $34,340 |
Maryland | $35,350 |
Massachusetts | $40,190 |
Michigan | $35,410 |
Minnesota | $37,820 |
Mississippi | $28,290 |
Missouri | $32,600 |
Montana | $33,350 |
Nebraska | $30,880 |
Nevada | $36,690 |
New Hampshire | $40,040 |
New Jersey | $35,450 |
New Mexico | $25,460 |
New York | $35,410 |
North Carolina | $32,270 |
North Dakota | $39,950 |
Ohio | $35,060 |
Oklahoma | $28,510 |
Oregon | $36,700 |
Pennsylvania | $35,460 |
Rhode Island | $37,930 |
South Carolina | $27,810 |
South Dakota | $26,210 |
Tennessee | $34,140 |
Texas | $36,210 |
Utah | $32,950 |
Vermont | $34,900 |
Virginia | $34,940 |
Washington | $40,260 |
West Virginia | $28,950 |
Wisconsin | $35,410 |
Wyoming | $36,930 |
What Tools & Technology do Office Clerks Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Office Clerks may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Spreadsheet software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Docs
How do I Become an Office Clerk?
Learn what Office Clerk education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Office Clerk?

Who Employs Office Clerks?

Below are examples of industries where Office Clerks work:

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being an Office Clerk may also be interested in:
Career changers with experience as an Office Clerk sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Jace Armstrong via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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