How much does an office clerk make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical office clerk in the United States makes $45,010 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They answer calls and emails, greet visitors, sort mail, and schedule appointments. At a computer, they update files and type or check memos and reports.
Did you know? Some general office clerks may collect and count money or do basic bookkeeping—not just file papers.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $30,310 and $64,680How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school or earn an equivalent diploma; related experience usually isn't needed. Employers teach office procedures, phone manners, and equipment use, often in training lasting up to a month.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can vary with experience, computer skills, special certificates an employer values, the kind of workplace and its location, and how much responsibility or special skill a task needs. Full-time or part-time hours also change total earnings.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($55,040), lowest in Alabama ($31,200).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Kids' questions
In Japan, a office clerk averages $36,093. Office clerk salary in Japan
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,310 | $45,010 | $64,680 | about 2.5 million |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $55,040 | about 6,000 |
| Colorado | $53,550 | about 32,000 |
| Alaska | $51,890 | about 3,000 |
| Washington | $50,500 | about 49,000 |
| North Dakota | $50,160 | about 8,000 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/general-office-clerks.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/43-9061.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/earnings.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY