Career
Office clerks, general
Handle the many tasks that keep an office running.
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- 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.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
AI
BLS now cites artificial intelligence in this occupation's outlook: “share decreases as increased use of technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and electronic filing systems, automate some clerical functions and reduce the need for individuals to perform these duties.”
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on information & systems, then persuasion & leadership?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though short-term on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $45,010 a year and 249,000 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- General Office Occupations and Clerical ServicesCIP 52.0408
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540 · -6.0%
- File Clerks$43,600 · -15.8%
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,010 · -1.7%
- Administrative Services Managers$114,130 · +5.2%
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$45,930 · +4.8%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.