Office Clerks, General
SOC code 43-9061 · O*NET-SOC 43-9061.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects numerous job openings for this occupation
General office clerks are the utility players of administration: filing, data entry, phones, records and whatever coordination the office needs that day. The breadth of the role makes it a solid first office job, and the natural moves are into specialised clerk roles or executive support.
Office Clerks, General pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$45,010
a year
Hourly
$21.64
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$46,420
$22.32 per hour
Middle 50%
$36,350 – $54,300
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$30,310 – $64,680
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
2,464,940
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $30,310
- $14.57/hr
- 25th percentile
- $36,350
- $17.48/hr
- Median percentile
- $45,010
- $21.64/hr
- 75th percentile
- $54,300
- $26.11/hr
- 90th percentile
- $64,680
- $31.10/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
-7%
Declining
2,646,000
jobs in 2024
2,468,200
projected for 2034
About 177,800 fewer jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do office clerks, general do?
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, office machine operation, and filing.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.
- Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages.
- Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints.
- Collect, count, and disburse money, do basic bookkeeping, and complete banking transactions.
- Complete and mail bills, contracts, policies, invoices, or checks.
- Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer.
- Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities.
- Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 41% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)41%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree36%
- Some College Courses15%
- Post-Secondary Certificate7%
Common questions
How much does an office clerks, general earn?
The national median is $45,010 a year. The full range runs from $30,310 at the 10th percentile to $64,680 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an office clerks, general without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is office clerks, general in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to shrink by about 7% between 2024 and 2034 — declining. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Speaking3.6/5
- Writing3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
- Monitoring2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Administrative4.2/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.4/5
- Administration and Management3.0/5
- Computers and Electronics2.9/5
- Mathematics2.7/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Time Management.