Career Overview
File correspondence, cards, invoices, receipts, and other records in alphabetical or numerical order or according to the filing system used. Locate and remove material from file when requested.
Also Known As
- Clerk
- File Clerk
- Office Assistant
- Records Clerk
Alternate Job Titles
- Admissions Clerk
- Blueprint Clerk
- Brand Recorder
- Card Filer
- Claims Clerk
- Classification Clerk
- Clerk
- Clerk Typist
- Computer Aide
- Computer Tape Librarian
- Credit Card Clerk
- Cut File Clerk
- Cut Filer
- Death Surveys Coder
- Document Clerk
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials.
- Keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports.
- Gather materials to be filed from departments or employees.
- Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users.
- Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary.
- Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.
- Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Administrative
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Information Ordering
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Category Flexibility
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Selective Attention
- Perceptual Speed
- Speech Clarity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Cooperation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Computer inkjet printers
- Copy machines
- Document scanners
- Document stamps
- File cabinets
- Laser facsimile machines
- Mechanized file systems
- Microfiche viewing equipment
- Microfilm viewing equipment
- Multiline telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Stepladders
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Spend Time Sitting
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $29,620 |
| Median | $41,270 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $61,080 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 78,980
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Data Entry Keyers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $39,850
Medical Records Specialists
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $50,250
Office Clerks, General
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $43,630
Correspondence Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,740
Word Processors and Typists
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $47,850
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.