General Office Clerks

At a Glance

Are entry-level workers
Perform a variety of clerical tasks
Work with customers, supervisors, and coworkers
Need good keyboarding and organizational skills
Train on the job

Career summary

General office clerks perform a variety of duties for offices.

General office clerks are sometimes known as office assistants, clerical assistants, and general clerks.

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General office clerks' duties vary with the employer and with the clerk's experience. Most general office clerks file documents, type, and operate office machines. They often troubleshoot problems with office equipment, such as photocopiers and scanners.

Clerks may send, open, route, and answer mail. They may also:

Answer telephones
Greet visitors
Schedule appointments

Clerks may put together records and reports. They may also make travel arrangements for other office staff. Some clerks calculate wages, taxes, commissions, and payments. Many clerks sort checks, keep payroll records, process expense reports, and take inventory. They may do some light bookkeeping and handle bank transactions. They may also order and stock office supplies.

General office clerks also perform duties specific to their employer. For example, a clerk in a doctor's office may organize medications. In a large financial organization, a clerk may make charts for a presentation. A clerk in the office of an auto parts wholesaler may fill orders.

Duties also vary by level of experience. New office clerks start with basic tasks. They type information from notes, make photocopies, and record questions or requests.

More experienced workers may keep financial or other records and check reports for correctness and completeness. Some clerks may also handle customer complaints and questions. They may help prepare budgetary requests or prepare meetings and agendas. They may on occasion record minutes for meetings.

Senior office clerks may supervise the work of other clerks and set work schedules. Some may train new employees or other office staff.

Related careers

This career is part of the Business Management and Administration cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Military careers

Administrative Support Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to general office clerks.

Sort and file records of office activities. May use computer databases or do this by hand.
Type and proofread letters and documents using computers. May transcribe letters from notes.
Operate office machines such as copiers, fax machines, and computers.
Answer telephones, deliver messages, take orders, and run errands.
Send, open, route, and answer mail. Prepare outgoing mail.
Prepare bills, contracts, reports, policies, invoices, or checks.
Communicate with customers, employees, and others about office information.
Keep records, manage calendars, and prepare reports.
Take inventory of equipment and supplies. Order supplies when stock is low.
Set up and attend meetings. May record and transcribe minutes.
Handle customer complaints.
Set up appointments for others. May make travel arrangements for other employees.
May supervise other workers, train staff, and prepare work schedules.
May handle money, do basic bookkeeping, and handle some banking transactions.
May troubleshoot problems with office equipment such as computers, photocopiers, and scanners.

Common work activities

General office clerks perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Use computers
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Get information needed to do the job
Perform administrative tasks
Document and record information
Establish and maintain relationships
Process information
Communicate with people outside the organization
Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Identify objects, actions, and events
Evaluate information against standards
Update and use job-related knowledge
Make decisions and solve problems
Schedule work and activities
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, general office clerks:

Interpersonal relationships

Have a high level of social contact. They regularly talk to customers and coworkers.
Communicate by telephone, e-mail, and in person on a daily basis. They communicate sometimes by letters and memos.
Regularly work in a group or as part of a team.
On occasion deal with unpleasant, discourteous, or angry people.
Have limited responsibility for outcomes and results. They occasionally work on large projects, but usually act as helpers.

Physical work conditions

Often work indoors.
Work near others. They often share the same office space with other workers.

Work performance

Must be exact in their work.
Make decisions that affect others on a weekly basis. They make most decisions without consulting a supervisor. However, these decisions are usually small in nature.
Set most tasks and goals for the day without consulting a supervisor. This is because duties do not vary much from day-to-day.
Repeat the same mental and physical activities.
Must abide by strict, weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

Generally work a set schedule.
May work part time or full time. Most work full time.
May work overtime during busy periods.

Physical demands

General office clerks frequently:

Sit for long periods of time.
Repeat the same movements.
Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for general office clerks to be able to:

See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
Understand the speech of another person.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for general office clerks to be able to:

See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

Skills and abilities

General office clerks need to:

Communicate

Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Read and understand work-related materials.
Understand written information.
Understand spoken information.
Listen to others and ask questions.
Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Develop rules that group items in various ways.
Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
Look for ways to help people.
Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Training

To work as a general office clerk, you typically need to:

have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
complete short-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

While not required, training in computer skills and office practices can be very useful. Community and junior colleges, vocational schools, and private business schools all offer related courses. In addition, many employers look for applicants who have completed some college course work.

On-the-job training

Most general office clerks learn their skills on the job. Training usually lasts up to one month. However, you need keyboarding skills and knowledge of office practices to be hired.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be administrative support specialists. Training lasts for six to ten weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Computer Applications
Office Procedures

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers require general office clerks to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers prefer applicants who have clerical experience.

Employers look for applicants who have typing, word processing, computer, and other clerical skills. Some employers look for strong skills in English and business math.

Some employers have applicants take a placement test. Most employers want accuracy more than keyboarding speed. A good attitude and a willingness to learn are also important.

Tips

Flexibility is extremely important. Employers prefer workers with good communication skills. Work experience (part time or full time) in an office setting is highly recommended. Cooperative education, internships, or volunteering are ways to gain on-the-job experience. Develop good spelling skills and don’t rely on computerized spell checkers to find all errors. Be willing to upgrade your skills to keep up to date on the office equipment and computers used in this field.

Costs to workers

Some workers may wish to join a professional association, which may have annual dues. Others may be required to join a union.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

Office Clerks, General

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link) .

Wages

Office clerks, general (SOC 43-9061)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$12.65	$15.01	$18.16	$22.81	$28.12
	Monthly	$2,192	$2,601	$3,147	$3,953	$4,873
	Yearly	$26,310	$31,220	$37,780	$47,430	$58,490
Bellingham	Hourly	$13.08	$15.32	$18.48	$22.65	$26.55
	Monthly	$2,267	$2,655	$3,203	$3,925	$4,601
	Yearly	$27,203	$31,867	$38,435	$47,095	$55,233
Bremerton-Silverdale	Hourly	$12.66	$14.74	$17.94	$22.03	$26.39
	Monthly	$2,194	$2,554	$3,109	$3,818	$4,573
	Yearly	$26,337	$30,650	$37,308	$45,825	$54,891
Clarkston-Lewiston	Hourly	$8.79	$9.99	$14.11	$17.67	$20.76
	Monthly	$1,523	$1,731	$2,445	$3,062	$3,598
	Yearly	$18,281	$20,773	$29,357	$36,756	$43,186
Kennewick-Richland	Hourly	$12.51	$14.18	$17.18	$21.81	$26.88
	Monthly	$2,168	$2,457	$2,977	$3,780	$4,658
	Yearly	$26,016	$29,480	$35,732	$45,349	$55,901
Longview	Hourly	$12.06	$13.47	$17.11	$21.32	$25.67
	Monthly	$2,090	$2,334	$2,965	$3,695	$4,449
	Yearly	$25,072	$28,019	$35,570	$44,346	$53,398
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	Hourly	$12.62	$15.67	$18.73	$22.83	$27.28
	Monthly	$2,187	$2,716	$3,246	$3,956	$4,728
	Yearly	$26,250	$32,596	$38,966	$47,496	$56,729
Olympia-Tumwater	Hourly	$12.48	$14.35	$17.21	$20.44	$25.84
	Monthly	$2,163	$2,487	$2,982	$3,542	$4,478
	Yearly	$25,941	$29,841	$35,800	$42,533	$53,758
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$13.60	$16.22	$19.58	$24.71	$29.98
	Monthly	$2,357	$2,811	$3,393	$4,282	$5,196
	Yearly	$28,292	$33,745	$40,733	$51,384	$62,364
Spokane-Spokane Valley	Hourly	$12.31	$13.90	$16.99	$20.15	$25.42
	Monthly	$2,133	$2,409	$2,944	$3,492	$4,405
	Yearly	$25,612	$28,914	$35,339	$41,914	$52,873
Vancouver	Hourly	$12.23	$14.72	$18.01	$22.24	$27.17
	Monthly	$2,119	$2,551	$3,121	$3,854	$4,709
	Yearly	$25,434	$30,617	$37,457	$46,255	$56,523
Walla Walla	Hourly	$12.24	$13.90	$16.98	$19.54	$23.86
	Monthly	$2,121	$2,409	$2,943	$3,386	$4,135
	Yearly	$25,458	$28,916	$35,324	$40,660	$49,610
Wenatchee	Hourly	$12.15	$13.87	$17.66	$23.04	$28.31
	Monthly	$2,106	$2,404	$3,060	$3,993	$4,906
	Yearly	$25,258	$28,850	$36,729	$47,905	$58,897
Yakima	Hourly	$12.45	$14.52	$17.58	$20.91	$25.71
	Monthly	$2,158	$2,516	$3,047	$3,624	$4,456
	Yearly	$25,875	$30,205	$36,552	$43,483	$53,477
United States	Hourly	$9.84	$12.06	$15.74	$20.22	$25.73
	Monthly	$1,705	$2,090	$2,728	$3,504	$4,459
	Yearly	$20,470	$25,090	$32,730	$42,050	$53,510

Pay varies with the worker's education and experience. It also varies with the industry. Clerks who work for transportation and public utilities tend to receive higher wages. Pay tends to be lower in construction, finance, insurance, and real estate.

Full-time general office clerks usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacations, health insurance, and sick leave.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Office Clerks, General (SOC 43-9061)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	78,116	14.5%	16.1%	12,018
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	2,136	13.1%	13.4%	322
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	2,256	9.0%	8.6%	314
Benton and Franklin Counties	2,928	15.3%	15.0%	458
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	3,063	13.6%	11.9%	465
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	5,252	14.9%	15.2%	813
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	5,081	14.3%	14.1%	782
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	4,751	15.7%	14.6%	746
King County	28,410	15.2%	19.6%	4,420
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	3,248	14.5%	13.8%	502
Pierce County	8,057	18.9%	15.2%	1,335
Snohomish County	6,604	14.7%	12.4%	1,019
Spokane County	6,095	13.1%	13.9%	915
United States	3,158,500	-3.5%	5.2%	360,400

National employment

General office clerks work in all types and sizes of businesses. These jobs are found in all areas of the country.

Major employers:

Schools
Hospitals
Federal, state, and local government agencies

National outlook

The demand for general office clerks is expected to decline. This is due to advances in technology that require fewer workers. The health care industry, especially doctors' offices, should create many new jobs for office clerks. However, the government and schools will be hiring fewer general office clerks.

Many job openings will occur because this is a very large occupation and many people move on to other jobs. Job prospects will be best for those with experience and computer skills.

Other resources

Association of Executive and Administrative Professionals
900 South Washington Street, Suite G-13
Falls Church, VA 22046
703.237.8616

Careers in the Military

Washington Business Week
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

Business Management and Administration

Career path

Conventional (Business Operations)

O*Net occupation

Office Clerks, General (43-9061.00)

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.