Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Financial clerks, all other, support financial operations across a range of settings. Nationally, this occupation employs about 39,000 workers, with a median annual salary of $52,150. The role combines working with numbers, information systems, and people, drawing on skills in mathematics, computers and information technology, customer service, and detailed record handling. Strong writing and reading abilities, along with speaking and listening skills, support accurate communication and documentation. Employers typically look for candidates who are detail oriented, adaptable, and able to manage multiple tasks or small projects. Fine motor skills can also matter when handling physical documents or tools. With a projected national employment growth rate of 1.4% and about 4,000 annual openings, this field presents ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced support professionals. For those considering related paths, similar occupations include bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks; office and administrative support workers; office clerks; billing and posting clerks; and insurance claims and policy processing clerks.
Financial clerks, all other, earn a national median annual salary of $52,150, with pay varying by location. Several states stand out for higher median salaries. New York leads among the highlighted states at $61,500, followed by Massachusetts at $60,530, Colorado at $59,990, Washington at $58,970, and California at $58,100. Among metro areas, salaries are even higher in several markets. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro reports a median salary of $73,030, and the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro shows $71,060. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has a median of $62,140, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is at $61,010 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $60,780. These differences suggest that workers in certain metro areas, particularly Washington, DC and San Francisco, may see stronger earning potential than the national median.
Nationally, financial clerks, all other, have employment of about 39,000 workers. Projected employment growth is 1.4%, with approximately 4,000 annual openings. This combination indicates that, while overall headcount is not changing dramatically, there is consistent hiring activity each year. The presence of ongoing openings can reflect a mix of new positions and turnover in existing roles. The 1.4% projected growth rate is consistent across the top states and metro areas highlighted, suggesting a relatively steady outlook in those markets as well. For job seekers, this means that opportunities are likely to continue emerging over time, rather than being limited to a one-time expansion. Individuals exploring this field can consider it as an option with stable demand, complemented by the ability to move into related occupations such as bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks or other office and administrative support roles if they wish to broaden their career path.
Career opportunities for financial clerks, all other, vary by state and metro area. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all show opportunity scores above 56, with New York and Massachusetts slightly ahead of California. New York has a median salary of $61,500 and employment of 2,450, while Massachusetts offers $60,530 with 540 employed. California combines a median salary of $58,100 with the highest employment in this group at 2,690. Colorado and Washington also provide solid median wages near $60,000, with 2,220 and 450 employed, respectively. All five states share the same 1.4% projected growth rate. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City area stands out with an opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 2,710. Washington, DC and San Francisco metros feature the highest median salaries, at $73,030 and $71,060. Boston and Los Angeles also show opportunity scores above 62, indicating multiple strong regional markets to consider.
The typical education requirement for financial clerks, all other, is a high school diploma or equivalent. Within that educational level, success in this occupation is closely tied to a strong skill set rather than advanced formal schooling. Key skills include mathematics and computers and information technology, which support handling financial data and systems. Customer service, interpersonal abilities, and speaking and listening skills help in working with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders. Being detail oriented is important for accuracy, while writing and reading skills support clear documentation and understanding of financial information. Adaptability enables workers to adjust to changing tasks or procedures, and fine motor skills can be useful when dealing with physical documents or tools. Basic project management skills round out the profile, helping individuals organize work, meet deadlines, and coordinate multiple responsibilities within the broader office or financial team.
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