General Office Clerks

What They Do: General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.

Work Environment: Although general office clerks are employed in nearly every industry, many work in schools, healthcare facilities, and government offices. Some work part time.

How to Become One: General office clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. Most learn their skills on the job.

Salary: The median hourly wage for general office clerks is $17.81.

Job Outlook: Employment of general office clerks is projected to decline 5 percent over the next ten years.

Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of general office clerks with similar occupations.

Following is everything you need to know about a career as an office clerk with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:

Top 3 General Office Clerk Jobs

• Office Clerk (with Data Entry) - Hiring Now - Align Aerospace - Los Angeles, CA

  As our Accounts Payable Clerk , you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of our financial operations. Your expertise will directly contribute to the success of our company ...

• Office Clerk (with Data Entry) - Hiring Now - CRMG - Portland, OR

  The Desk Clerk is responsible for monitoring the property overnight by walking the property hourly, monitoring the building cameras, updating the property logbook, checking in guests, posting notices ...

• Assistant General Manager - Fairfield Inn & Suites O'Fallon, IL - O'Fallon, IL

  Required to assume the job duties of the front desk clerk or any other position which is directly ... Assists with front office and housekeeping scheduling, adhering to allotted hours * Works with the ...

See all General Office Clerk jobs

What General Office Clerks Do[About this section] [To Top]

General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.

Duties of General Office Clerks

General office clerks typically do the following:

• Answer and transfer telephone calls or take messages
• Sort and deliver incoming mail and send outgoing mail
• Schedule appointments and receive customers or visitors
• Provide general information to staff, clients, or the public
• Type, format, or edit routine memos or other reports
• Copy, file, and update paper and electronic documents
• Prepare and process bills and other office documents
• Collect information and perform data entry

Rather than performing a single specialized task, general office clerks have responsibilities that often change daily with the current needs of the employer.

Some clerks file documents or answer phones; others enter data into computers or perform other tasks using software applications. They also frequently use photocopiers, scanners, fax machines, and other office equipment.

The specific duties assigned to clerks will depend on the type of office in which they work. For example, a general office clerk at a college or university may process application materials and answer questions from prospective students, while a clerk at a hospital may file and retrieve medical records.

Work Environment for General Office Clerks[About this section] [To Top]

General office clerks hold about 2.8 million jobs. The largest employers of general office clerks are as follows:

Healthcare and social assistance	11%
Educational services; state, local, and private	11%
Government	10%
Professional, scientific, and technical services	8%
Administrative and support services	8%

General office clerks usually work in office settings.

General Office Clerk Work Schedules

Most general office clerks work full time.

How to Become a General Office Clerk[About this section] [To Top]

Get the education you need: Find schools for General Office Clerks near you!

General office clerks typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn their skills on the job.

Education for General Office Clerks

General office clerks usually need a high school diploma or equivalent.

Courses in using computer applications, such as word processing and spreadsheet software, may be helpful for those who aren't already familiar with them.

General Office Clerk Training

General office clerks usually learn their skills while on the job. Their training typically lasts up to one month and may include instructions on office procedures, proper phone etiquette, and the use of office equipment.

Advancement for General Office Clerks

General office clerks may advance to other administrative positions with more responsibility, such as secretaries and administrative assistants.

Advancement opportunities often depend on work experience.

Important Qualities for General Office Clerks

Customer-service skills. General office clerks often provide general information to company staff, customers, or the public. They should be courteous and prompt with their responses.

Detail oriented. General office clerks perform many clerical tasks that require attention to detail, such as preparing bills.

Organizational skills. General office clerks file and retrieve records. They need to keep records organized to be able to access them quickly and efficiently.

General Office Clerk Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]

The median hourly wage for general office clerks is $17.81. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.30, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $28.31.

The median hourly wages for general office clerks in the top industries in which they work are as follows:

Government	$18.23
Professional, scientific, and technical services	$17.91
Healthcare and social assistance	$17.74
Educational services; state, local, and private	$17.44
Administrative and support services	$17.24

Most general office clerks work full time.

Job Outlook for General Office Clerks[About this section] [To Top]

Employment of general office clerks is projected to decline 5 percent over the next ten years.

Despite declining employment, about 325,400 openings for general office clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment of General Office Clerks

The continued use of technology that automates document preparation and other clerical tasks, such as automated phone systems, will result in fewer general office clerks needed to perform this work. In addition, electronic filing systems and file sharing software allow other office workers to do the tasks previously done by general office clerks, further decreasing employment of office clerks. However, there will still be some sustained demand for these workers to handle administrative tasks.

Employment projections data for General Office Clerks, 2021-31

Occupational Title	Employment, 2021	Projected Employment, 2031	Change, 2021-31
			Percent	Numeric
Office clerks, general	2,751,800	2,621,100	-5	-130,800

Careers Related to General Office Clerks[About this section] [To Top]

Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks produce financial records for organizations. They record financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy.

Customer Service Representatives

Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization's products and services.

Information Clerks

Information clerks perform routine clerical duties such as maintaining records, collecting data, and providing information to customers.

Material Recording Clerks

Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.

Receptionists

Receptionists perform administrative tasks, such as answering phones, receiving visitors, and providing general information about their organization to the public and customers.

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Secretaries and administrative assistants perform routine clerical and administrative duties. They organize files, prepare documents, schedule appointments, and support other staff.