CareerFacts

All careers › File Clerks

File clerk: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$43,600median pay per year, or $20.96 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,200lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,42025th percentile
  3. $43,600median
  4. $51,77075th percentile
  5. $63,490top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

A file clerk earned a median of $43,600 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects employment to fall 15.8% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-15.8%[2]
Openings per year
5,600[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do file clerks make?

The median file clerk earned $43,600 a year, or $20.96 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean, or average, was $45,590 a year and $21.92 an hour[7]. The median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980, so file clerk pay sat below the national middle[4].

The pay range looks like this[3][8]:

Point in the range Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][8] $31,200 $15.00
25th percentile[3][8] $36,420 $17.51
Median[1] $43,600 $20.96
75th percentile[3][8] $51,770 $24.89
90th percentile[3][8] $63,490 $30.53

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $31,200[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These numbers cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses outside production or the cost of benefits[10]. About 1.4% of file clerks were self-employed in 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Oregon had the top median annual wage at $50,660[12]. Hawaii ($50,630), Illinois ($49,920), Alaska ($49,910) and California ($49,040) came next[12]. Mississippi had the lowest median among the 49 states with published data, at $31,260[12].

Texas had the most jobs, at 11,340[13]. California (9,520), Florida (6,180), Illinois (3,780) and Pennsylvania (2,830) followed[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median at $60,840[14]. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin came next at $58,320, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $54,910[14]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area had the most jobs, at 3,930, with a median of $48,450[15].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[12]$50,660970
Hawaii$50,630100
Illinois$49,9203,780
Alaska$49,910150
California$49,0409,520
Massachusetts$48,310600
Vermont$47,54070
Minnesota$46,640760
Iowa$46,560430
Colorado$46,4901,130
Idaho$45,910540
Washington$45,830520
Wisconsin$45,1301,550
Maryland$44,920880
Connecticut$44,810350
New Jersey$44,4002,310
New Hampshire$44,390300
New York$44,3402,590
Nevada$44,1501,110
Michigan$43,9501,820
Maine$43,910210
Arizona$43,6902,190
North Carolina$43,2601,970
Tennessee$43,0102,060
Pennsylvania$42,9202,830
North Dakota$42,86060
Kansas$42,130570
Florida$41,7506,180
Utah$41,450510
Georgia$41,0002,570
Ohio$40,6501,820
Nebraska$40,640750
Delaware$39,940n/a
Virginia$39,9002,110
Indiana$39,7401,430
Texas$39,48011,340
South Carolina$39,3501,210
Kentucky$39,250250
Oklahoma$39,1701,440
Arkansas$38,470310
Missouri$38,4001,000
Montana$38,370410
Alabama$38,290110
New Mexico$37,700340
South Dakota$36,640n/a
Rhode Island$36,400n/a
Louisiana$32,200680
West Virginia$31,600260
Mississippi$31,260n/a

How to become a file clerk

BLS lists the typical path into this job[6]:

In an O*NET survey of 23 workers, 38% said an associate's degree is required, 30% said a high school diploma or equivalent, 23% said some college courses and 8% said a bachelor's degree[16]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

The training details in this section come from a BLS profile called Information Clerks, which covers a wider group than file clerks alone[17]. It says these clerks typically hold a high school diploma and learn skills on the job[18]. Training usually lasts a few weeks and covers office procedures and computer programs[19]. It adds that courses in word processing and spreadsheets are especially helpful[20]. Some clerks may move up to other administrative jobs[21].

O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means very little to some preparation is needed[22].

What file clerks do

O*NET describes the work as filing letters, cards, invoices, receipts and other records in order, then finding and pulling them when someone asks[23]. Typical tasks include[24]:

Workers report job titles such as file clerk, medical records clerk, office assistant and police records clerk[25].

Where they work

The BLS profile for the wider information clerks group says these workers are found in nearly every industry, and most work in offices[26]. Traveler accommodation employed 19% of that wider group in 2025[27]. The profile says part-time work is common for file clerks[28].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of file clerks to fall 15.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 76,200 to 64,200 jobs, a loss of 12,000[2]. For all occupations, employment is projected to grow 3.5%[29]. These projection counts include the self-employed. The OEWS count of about 73,440 jobs covers wage and salary jobs only[30].

BLS names one factor behind the decline. As more records go digital, other workers can file and find records on their own[31].

Jobs still open up. BLS expects about 5,600 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings count new jobs and also spots left by people who retire or switch to another occupation. Each year, 4.6% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with a high school entry requirement and short on-the-job training[6]. Median pay was below the all-occupations median, and the 90th percentile reached $63,490[1][4][3]. Pay differed by state, from $31,260 in Mississippi to $50,660 in Oregon[12]. Employment is projected to shrink while all occupations grow[2][29]. Openings from retirements and job changes are still expected each year[5]. Anyone weighing this job may want to look at related occupations, since O*NET lists several with their own pay and outlook figures[33].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a file clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for file clerks was $20.96 in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $15.00 and the 90th was $30.53[8].
What education do you need to be a file clerk?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, no related work experience, and short-term on-the-job training[6].
Is file clerk a dying job?
BLS projects employment to decline 15.8% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][29]. About 5,600 openings a year are still expected[5].
What is the highest paying state for file clerks?
Oregon had the top median annual wage at $50,660, followed by Hawaii at $50,630[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for File Clerks in the US was $43,600 per year and $20.96 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of File Clerks is projected to decline 15.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 76,200 to 64,200 jobs (a change of -12,000). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for File Clerks: 10th percentile $31,200, 25th percentile $36,420, 75th percentile $51,770, 90th percentile $63,490. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 5,600 openings for File Clerks are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into File Clerks: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for File Clerks was $45,590 per year and $21.92 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for File Clerks: 10th percentile $15.00, 25th percentile $17.51, 75th percentile $24.89, 90th percentile $30.53. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 1.4% of File Clerks were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for File Clerks in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most File Clerks jobs: Texas 11,340; California 9,520; Florida 6,180; Illinois 3,780; Pennsylvania 2,830. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for File Clerks (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $60,840; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $58,320; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $54,910; Modesto, CA $52,830; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $52,280; Toledo, OH $50,840; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $50,680; Salem, OR $50,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most File Clerks jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,930 (median $48,450); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,260 (median $44,710); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 3,170 (median $42,850); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 2,640 (median $58,320); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,580 (median $41,400); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,920 (median $45,760). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 43-4071.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 38%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 30%, Some College Courses 23%, Bachelor's Degree 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Information Clerks" covers File Clerks together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 43-4071.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of File Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for File Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET 43-4071.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Claims Clerk, Clerk, Clerk Typist, Documentation Specialist, File Clerk, Medical Records Clerk, Office Assistant, Police Records Clerk. O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of information clerks in 2025: Traveler accommodation 19%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 73,440 people were employed as File Clerks in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  31. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of File Clerks: Occupational substitution - share decreases as continued adoption of digital records permits other occupations to file and retrieve records on their own. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for File Clerks: 4.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.