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Office and Administration

Office Clerks, General

Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Office Clerks, General
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Median pay

$43,630
Median annual pay for Office Clerks, General.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-6.7%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

282,400
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

2,646,000
Estimated U.S. employment for Office Clerks, General in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-177,800
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Reading Comprehension
  3. 3Speaking
  4. 4Writing
  5. 5Critical Thinking
  6. 6Monitoring

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Administrative
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Customer and Personal Service
  4. 4Administration and Management
  5. 5Computers and Electronics
  6. 6Mathematics

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Written Comprehension
  4. 4Written Expression
  5. 5Near Vision
  6. 6Speech Clarity

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Enterprising
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Realistic
  5. 5Investigative
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Cooperation
  4. 4Integrity
  5. 5Social Orientation
  6. 6Self-Control

Work activities

  1. 1Working with Computers
  2. 2Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Performing Administrative Activities
  5. 5Documenting/Recording Information
  6. 6Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Work context

  1. 1Telephone Conversations
  2. 2E-Mail
  3. 3Contact With Others
  4. 4Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  5. 5Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  6. 6Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Representative tasks

  • Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.
  • Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages.
  • Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints.
  • Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer.
  • Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities.
  • Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests.
  • Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.
  • Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports.

Software and tools

Microsoft Word · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandIntuit QuickBooks · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandGoogle Workspace software · in demandHenry Schein Dentrix · hot technologyMicrosoft Project · hot technologyMicrosoft SharePoint · hot technologyGoogle Docs · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technology

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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