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.

What you'd actually do

• 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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work is mostly indoors; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 0.5% of office clerks, general are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, take-charge and people-focused.

Related careers

• Brokerage Clerks
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
• Customer Service Representatives
• Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
• Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks

Quick questions

How much does a office clerks, general make?

The median pay is $21.64 per hour — roughly $45,000 a year, with the real range running from about $14.57/hr (10th percentile) to $31.10/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a office clerks, general?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a office clerks, general actually do all day?

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.