File Clerks vs Office Machine Operators, Except Computer: $44K vs $41K Median Pay

File Clerks vs Office Machine Operators, Except Computer: what changes?

Consider File Clerks if you want to file correspondence, cards, invoices, receipts, and other records in alphabetical or numerical order or according to the filing system used. Consider Office Machine Operators, Except Computer if you would rather operate one or more of a variety of office machines, such as photocopying, photographic, and duplicating machines, or other office machines. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for File Clerks and Office Machine Operators, Except Computer. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

File Clerks

National median pay (2025): $43,600
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 5,600

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 15.8% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full File Clerks brief

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

National median pay (2025): $40,960
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Read job orders to determine the type of work to be done, the quantities to be produced, and the materials needed.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,100

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 14.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Office Machine Operators, Except Computer brief

How the national numbers differ

File Clerks has the edge on annual openings

File Clerks is at 5,600 annual openings, compared with 2,100 annual openings for Office Machine Operators, Except Computer.

File Clerks has the edge on median pay

File Clerks is at $43,600, compared with $40,960 for Office Machine Operators, Except Computer.

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer has the edge on projected growth

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer is at -14.9% projected growth, compared with -15.8% projected growth for File Clerks.

33.8/ 100

File Clerks

26.4/ 100

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence