Office clerks, general salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Mean (average) | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| 90th percentile | $64,680 | $31.10 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Office clerks, general pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,200 | $20,770 | $47,940 | 13,130 | 0.39 |
| Alaska | $51,890 | $37,320 | $72,800 | 3,440 | 0.67 |
| Arizona | $46,420 | $34,650 | $65,880 | 52,710 | 1.03 |
| Arkansas | $37,050 | $25,400 | $55,050 | 29,940 | 1.45 |
| California | $48,460 | $36,190 | $73,220 | 311,490 | 1.08 |
| Colorado | $53,550 | $38,160 | $78,930 | 31,770 | 0.7 |
| Connecticut | $48,280 | $35,570 | $66,790 | 23,190 | 0.86 |
| Delaware | $42,740 | $31,200 | $59,550 | 7,230 | 0.94 |
| District of Columbia | $55,040 | $39,350 | $75,960 | 5,670 | 0.51 |
| Florida | $44,450 | $30,880 | $65,110 | 189,700 | 1.21 |
| Georgia | $40,590 | $27,770 | $58,510 | 75,390 | 0.97 |
| Guam | $26,470 | $19,600 | $39,840 | 760 | 0.72 |
| Hawaii | $42,340 | $31,050 | $62,040 | 12,930 | 1.3 |
| Idaho | $44,830 | $29,530 | $63,190 | 20,790 | 1.53 |
| Illinois | $45,730 | $31,560 | $68,490 | 95,980 | 0.99 |
| Indiana | $44,520 | $28,510 | $63,920 | 58,480 | 1.15 |
| Iowa | $44,310 | $29,660 | $61,410 | 23,120 | 0.94 |
| Kansas | $32,370 | $20,340 | $60,170 | 2,130 | 0.09 |
| Kentucky | $37,870 | $22,640 | $56,750 | 29,750 | 0.94 |
| Louisiana | $32,480 | $20,920 | $49,520 | 31,790 | 1.04 |
| Maine | $45,300 | $34,430 | $60,010 | 11,260 | 1.11 |
| Maryland | $47,270 | $33,650 | $72,800 | 27,290 | 0.62 |
| Massachusetts | $49,940 | $35,750 | $69,770 | 47,940 | 0.83 |
| Michigan | $44,820 | $30,880 | $62,090 | 88,030 | 1.26 |
| Minnesota | $47,840 | $33,710 | $66,170 | 55,530 | 1.19 |
| Mississippi | $34,900 | $21,410 | $52,780 | 17,600 | 0.95 |
| Missouri | $42,370 | $29,900 | $62,710 | 56,050 | 1.2 |
| Montana | $46,480 | $32,200 | $65,090 | 10,390 | 1.28 |
| Nebraska | $37,820 | $28,430 | $51,930 | 10,000 | 0.62 |
| Nevada | $45,460 | $29,640 | $64,760 | 20,430 | 0.83 |
| New Hampshire | $49,020 | $32,550 | $71,470 | 12,740 | 1.18 |
| New Jersey | $48,570 | $34,810 | $71,230 | 65,130 | 0.96 |
| New Mexico | $37,130 | $27,750 | $52,000 | 11,880 | 0.86 |
| New York | $45,890 | $34,270 | $64,800 | 134,280 | 0.87 |
| North Carolina | $41,770 | $27,660 | $60,170 | 67,930 | 0.87 |
| North Dakota | $50,160 | $33,590 | $74,740 | 8,440 | 1.24 |
| Ohio | $43,680 | $27,770 | $63,190 | 89,310 | 1.02 |
| Oklahoma | $37,240 | $21,960 | $57,990 | 31,870 | 1.18 |
| Oregon | $49,910 | $36,120 | $67,370 | 27,980 | 0.9 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,950 | $29,640 | $62,480 | 107,500 | 1.12 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,860 | $21,840 | $38,040 | 20,190 | 1.36 |
| Rhode Island | $47,830 | $34,050 | $66,930 | 7,700 | 0.97 |
| South Carolina | $36,840 | $19,570 | $56,430 | 42,250 | 1.16 |
| South Dakota | $38,560 | $28,390 | $51,080 | 1,720 | 0.24 |
| Tennessee | $38,860 | $26,780 | $58,570 | 49,880 | 0.96 |
| Texas | $39,000 | $24,570 | $61,190 | 218,470 | 0.98 |
| Utah | $44,060 | $28,600 | $65,320 | 36,470 | 1.33 |
| Vermont | $48,310 | $36,940 | $63,750 | 5,100 | 1.06 |
| Virgin Islands | $37,330 | $27,850 | $61,920 | 560 | 1.1 |
| Virginia | $46,410 | $31,710 | $66,110 | 66,550 | 1.02 |
| Washington | $50,500 | $38,600 | $73,140 | 49,050 | 0.87 |
| West Virginia | $35,020 | $24,160 | $51,010 | 9,430 | 0.85 |
| Wisconsin | $44,980 | $27,130 | $61,760 | 51,440 | 1.1 |
| Wyoming | $42,840 | $29,030 | $64,260 | 6,670 | 1.5 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for office clerks, general
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 249,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for office clerks, general
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services CIP 52.0408
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.
- Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports.
Technology skills
- Google Workspace software (in demand)
- Intuit QuickBooks (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Henry Schein Dentrix (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Time Management, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Administrative Clerk (Admin Clerk), Clerical Aide, Clerical Assistant, Clerk, General Clerk, Office Assistant, Office Clerk, Office Services Specialist, Office Support Assistant.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do office clerks, general make?
The national median annual wage for office clerks, general was $45,010 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $30,310 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $64,680. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do office clerks, general need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is office clerks, general a growing career?
BLS projects employment of office clerks, general to change -6.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 249,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay office clerks, general the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($55,040), Colorado ($53,550), Alaska ($51,890). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.