Office Clerks, General Salary
The median office clerks, general salary in the United States is $45,010 per year ($21.64/hour). Salaries range from $30,310 at the entry level to $64,680+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 2,464,940 office clerks, general jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 6.7% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Training Needed
Office Clerks, General Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for office clerks, generals.
Office Clerks perform administrative + clerical duties β data entry, filing, mail handling, phone answering, customer service, basic accounting, appointment scheduling. Career splits: general office (front desk + admin support), specialty (medical office clerks, legal clerks, accounting clerks), corporate (large company administrative support), government + institutional. Path is entry-level with real career mobility through specialization, certifications, and advancement to office coordinator + supervisor + administrator. Compensation: entry $28-38k; experienced $36-52k; specialty (medical, legal) $42-62k; office coordinator + supervisor $52-75k; administrator + office manager $65-95k+. Government + healthcare + specialty pay above general commercial.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Office Clerks, General
- 1High school diploma or GED (minimum)Reading + basic math + typing required.
- 2Apply at office + business + healthcare + legal settingWide variety of employers. Entry-level positions available at almost any organization with an office.
- 3Complete on-the-job training (1-2 weeks)Company-specific processes + systems + protocols.
- 4Optional: Associate's or certificate in Business Administration + Medical Office + Legal OfficeSignals commitment + gives leg up on entry-level positions.
- 5Optional: Certifications (Certified Administrative Professional β CAP, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant β CMAA)Specialty certifications for higher-pay tracks.
- 6Move to Senior Clerk / Office Coordinator (2-4 years)Take on more responsibility + train new hires. Higher pay.
- 7Advance to Office Manager or Administrator5-10 years experience. Full office oversight + team management.
Career Progression
- β’Basic administrative tasks
- β’Filing + data entry + phones
- β’Learning tools + processes
- β’Independent administrative work
- β’Cross-trained in departments
- β’Some supervisory duties
- β’Lead specific functions (scheduling, records, billing)
- β’Support supervisor
- β’Train new hires
- β’Direct supervision of 3-6 clerks
- β’Owner of specific processes
- β’Reports to Office Manager
- β’Full office operations
- β’Team of 8-15+ staff
- β’Reporting to owners/partners
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 11 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Tell me about your office experience.situational
Q2. How do you handle a difficult customer or client?situational
Q3. Tell me about a project you completed.behavioral
Q4. Why our organization / role?culture
Q5. How do you handle multiple priorities?situational
Resume Template β Experienced Office Clerk (2-4 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈOffice Clerk, [Company], responsible for front desk + phone + scheduling + data entry.
- βΈAdvanced Excel + Word + Outlook + basic QuickBooks proficiency.
- βΈReduced average phone response time from 45 seconds to 18 seconds.
- βΈTrained 3 new-hire clerks in past year. All completed onboarding successfully.
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak typing or data entry speed.
- βPoor phone or customer service.
- βBad-mouthing prior employer or manager.
- βAttendance issues.
- βWeak documentation habits.
- βMissing key software skills.
- βPoor written communication.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βHourly rate.
- βShift differential (night + weekend at some organizations).
- βSign-on bonus $500-2,000 in high-demand areas.
- βFull benefits (health, dental, retirement) β huge difference between full-time + temp.
- βTuition reimbursement (large employers).
- βPTO + sick time.
- βCareer path to Coordinator + Supervisor + Manager.
- βCertifications support (CAP, CMAA, etc.).
- βOvertime eligibility.
Office Clerks, General Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired office clerks, generals. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Office Clerks, General Career Kit β $19
- β All 11 interview questions with expert answers
- β 10 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 8 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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Office Clerks, General Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $55,040 | +22.3% |
| Colorado | $53,550 | +19.0% |
| Alaska | $51,890 | +15.3% |
| Washington | $50,500 | +12.2% |
| North Dakota | $50,160 | +11.4% |
| Massachusetts | $49,940 | +11.0% |
| Oregon | $49,910 | +10.9% |
| New Hampshire | $49,020 | +8.9% |
| New Jersey | $48,570 | +7.9% |
| California | $48,460 | +7.7% |
Office Clerks, General Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | $59,840 | +32.9% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,840 | +30.7% |
| Greeley, CO | $56,030 | +24.5% |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $55,960 | +24.3% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,620 | +23.6% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $53,990 | +20.0% |
| Anchorage, AK | $53,550 | +19.0% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $53,290 | +18.4% |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $52,190 | +16.0% |
| Napa, CA | $52,000 | +15.5% |