File clerks

SOC Code: 43-4071
Also known as:
Admissions Clerk, Blueprint Clerk, Brand Recorder, Card Filer, Claims Clerk
Median Annual Salary
$41,270
-15.9% growth (2024-2034)
7K
Openings/Year
84K
Current Jobs

What File clerks Do

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.

💰 Salary

$41,270
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

-15.9%
Decline

🎓 Education

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

7K
Projected average per year

📚 On-the-Job Training

Short-term on-the-job training
Expected training period

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

84,300

Projected Employment (2034)

70,900

Related Careers

Medical records specialists

$50,250 • +7.1% growth
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Correspondence clerks

$46,740 • -5.6% growth
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Data entry keyers

$39,850 • -25.9% growth
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Word processors and typists

$47,850 • -36.1% growth
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Office clerks, general

$43,630 • -6.7% growth
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Top Skills Required

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Writing
Monitoring

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Eliminate outdated or unnecessary materials, destroying them or transferring them to inactive storage, according to file maintenance guidelines or legal requirements.
  • Answer questions about records or files.
  • Assign and record or stamp identification numbers or codes to index materials for filing.

Technology & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Intuit QuickBooks Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word

📚 Entry-Level Education

High school diploma or equivalent
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Associate's Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for File clerks

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a file clerks:

General Office Occupations and Clerical Services

1,543 degrees awarded • 116 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Best Colleges for Becoming a File clerks

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become file clerks.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 Bob Jones University Greenville, SC 15 B
2 Diversified Vocational College Los Angeles, CA 97 C+
3 Panola College Carthage, TX 76 C+
4 Davis Technical College Kaysville, UT 45 C+
5 Eastern Arizona College Thatcher, AZ 29 C+
6 Spokane Community College Spokane, WA 14 C+
7 Pierce College District Lakewood, WA 12 C+
8 Gateway Technical College Kenosha, WI 10 C+
9 Midland College Midland, TX 10 C+
10 Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WI 9 C+
11 Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac, WI 8 C+
12 Everett Community College Everett, WA 7 C+
13 Bellevue College Bellevue, WA 7 C+
14 Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI 7 C+
15 Northwood Technical College Rice Lake, WI 7 C+
16 Aims Community College Greeley, CO 6 C+
17 Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI 6 C+
18 Southwest Texas Junior College Uvalde, TX 5 C+
19 Arkansas State University-Newport Newport, AR 5 C+
20 Chippewa Valley Technical College Eau Claire, WI 5 C+

Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do file clerks make?
The median annual salary for file clerks is $41,270.
What education do file clerks need?
Most file clerks positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. Common degree programs include General Office Occupations and Clerical Services.
Is becoming file clerks a good career choice?
File clerks is projected to see -15.9% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which reflects some decline in the field. With approximately 7,300 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for file clerks?
Top colleges for aspiring file clerks include Bob Jones University, Diversified Vocational College, Panola College, Davis Technical College, Eastern Arizona College. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to file clerks?
File clerks may also be known as: 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, Document Coordinator, Document Scanner, Documentation Specialist, Documents Clerk, Documents Scanner. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.