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For Educators: Military Resources

Office Clerks, General

Median Salary
40,480
Job Outlook
-6%

Overview

What are the responsibilities of this role?

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.

What sectors do they work in?

Private for profit

57%

State and local government

24%

Private not for profit

11%

Self-employed

4%

Federal Government

3%

What is the job outlook?

Employment of general office clerks is projected to decline 6 percent from 2023 to 2033. About 284,600 openings for general office clerks are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Compensation

What is the typical salary range?

$21,860

10%

$40,480

Median

$50,630

90%

How does location impact how much salary?

Education

What level of education do professionals in this role have?

Education Level

  • High school

    40%

  • Associate's degree

    36%

  • Some college

    14%

  • Post-secondary certificate

    6%

  • Less than high school

    1%

Which college majors best prepare you for this role?

  • General Office Occupations and Clerical Services

Skills and Interest

Which skill sets are the most valuable to possess?

Skills

  • Verbal Skills

    Mid

  • Leadership

    Mid

  • Math and Science Skills

    Low

  • Technology Design and Control

    Low

  • Equipment Operation and Maintenance

    Low

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

    Low

What knowledge should you bring to the table?

  • Administrative
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Mathematics

What challenges will you likely face in the workplace?

Workplace

  • Repetitiveness

    High

  • Time Pressure

    Mid

  • Exposure to Job Hazards

    Low

  • Responsibility

    Low

  • Decision Making

    Low

  • Physical Activity

    Low

  • Level Of Competition

    Low

What personality traits help people thrive in this role?

Conventional

You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.

RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.

Take the RIASEC Test

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.