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.
File clerks support office operations by handling information, records, and documentation. This role offers a national median annual salary of $41,270 and national employment of about 84,000, showing that it remains a distinct occupation across many organizations. The work draws on several core strengths, including being detail oriented, strong writing and reading abilities, and solid speaking and listening skills. File clerks also benefit from interpersonal skills and customer service abilities when interacting with coworkers or the public. Physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, computers and information technology, and creativity and innovation can all play a part in success in this field, along with some use of science skills. The typical education requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, which can make this career accessible to a wide range of job seekers. People considering this path can also explore related roles such as office clerks, library assistants, and other office and administrative support positions.
For file clerks, the national median annual salary is $41,270, with notable variation across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $44,340 in New York to $49,040 in California, with Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington also above the national median. At the metro level, pay varies even more. The San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA metro shows a median salary of $60,840, and the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro is $54,910. Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH is $50,680. In contrast, the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV metros have median salaries closer to the national level, at $44,710 and $43,270, respectively. These differences indicate that geography can significantly shape earning potential for file clerks, even within the same occupation.
File clerks have national employment of about 84,000, with 7,000 annual openings projected. The occupation’s projected employment growth is -15.9%, indicating a decline in overall employment levels over the projection period. Despite this negative growth, the presence of thousands of annual openings suggests ongoing turnover and replacement needs. The same -15.9% growth rate appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, signaling a consistent projected trend in different parts of the country. For someone considering this field, the data points to a career where new positions may be less common over time, but opportunities can still arise as current workers change roles, retire, or leave the workforce. Planning a career in this occupation may involve paying close attention to local hiring patterns, as conditions can vary by region even when the national growth rate is declining.
Location plays a clear role in opportunities for file clerks. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York show some of the strongest combinations of median salary, employment, and opportunity scores. California leads with a median salary of $49,040, employment of 9,520, and the highest state opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York follow closely, with median salaries of $48,310 and $44,340 and opportunity scores just above 65. Colorado and Washington offer smaller employment bases—1,130 and 520 respectively—with mid-40s median salaries and opportunity scores in the mid‑50s. At the metro level, the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA area stands out with a median salary of $60,840 and the top opportunity score of 77.42. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro also has a very high opportunity score of 77.27 and the largest listed metro employment at 3,260. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH round out the strongest metros, each offering distinct combinations of pay, employment, and opportunity.
File clerk roles typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, making this occupation accessible without a college degree. Within that education level, success in the job is supported by a broad mix of skills. Detail orientation is important, along with strong writing and reading abilities to handle documents and information accurately. Speaking and listening skills, interpersonal strengths, and customer service abilities support interactions with coworkers and others. The role also benefits from comfort with computers and information technology, as many file systems are digital or use electronic tools. Physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, and creativity and innovation can contribute to day‑to‑day effectiveness, while science skills may be relevant in certain contexts. People considering this career can build a strong foundation by focusing on these skills during high school and through work or volunteer experiences, and may also keep similar careers in mind, such as office clerks or library assistants, as alternative paths.
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