Administrative Clerk: Career and Salary Facts

Research what it takes to become an administrative clerk. Learn about education requirements, job duties, salary, and job outlook to find out if this is the right career for you.

What Is an Administrative Clerk?

An administrative clerk helps a company operate more efficiently by providing assistance and support to other staff. These professionals are responsible for a variety of office procedures, such as filing and answering phones.

You can become an administrative clerk in nearly any industry. No matter which you choose, you will work in an office environment. You should be ready for a job with plenty of variety, as your daily duties will likely change depending on the current activities and needs of your employer. Attention to detail and strong organizational skills are important qualities to succeed as an administration clerk.

The following chart gives you an overview of what you need to know about entering this field:

Degree Required	High school diploma; postsecondary business education can be helpful
Key Responsibilities	Filing, operating office equipment, drafting e-mail and correspondence, answering phones
Job Growth (2020-2030)	-2%*
Average Salary (2020)	$37,770*

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What Are the Job Duties of an Administrative Clerk?

As an administrative or office clerk, you will perform a variety of tasks, including filing; operating scanners, fax machines, copiers and other office equipment; answering phones and opening mail. You may also be asked to make deliveries, order supplies and enter data into a computer. If you work in a doctor's office, you might catalog medication or help with insurance billing. In a corporate environment, you might help prepare presentations or organize payroll documents.

What Education and Skills Do I Need?

Most administrative clerks need a high school diploma to find employment. Although an associate degree isn't required, enrolling in business or computer courses at a community college, business or vocational school may be beneficial in a competitive job market. Business courses should provide you with knowledge about how offices organize data and communicate with customers. You should also learn how to operate computers and use word processing, bookkeeping and spreadsheet software programs.

Administrative clerks work with customers and many levels of management. You must be detail-oriented, adapt well to change and possess strong written and verbal communication skills. You must also be a team player and have the ability to accurately follow instructions. Depending on where you work, math calculation skills may be required.

What Is the Salary and Job Outlook for this Occupation?

As of May 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that office clerks earned an average annual wage of $37,770. The majority of these workers made between $22,030 and $57,140 annually. Between 2020 and 2030, office clerk jobs were predicted to decline by 2%. With the implementation of new technology in office environments, clerks who have knowledge of these advanced tools will have greater job opportunities. With professional experience, administrative clerks can advance to a more specialized position as a secretary or administrative assistant.

What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?

If you are considering a career as an administrative clerk you could also look into becoming either a customer service representative or a bookkeeping clerk. Both have similar educational requirements to those of an administrative clerk. Customer service representatives interact with customers to provide information, make sales, or handle complaints. A bookkeeping clerk records a company's financial transactions in order to produce financial records.