How much does a office clerk make?
The median office clerk in the United States earns $45,010 per year, about $21.64 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all office clerks earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-9061.
Office clerk salary range
Pay for office clerks spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $30,310 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $64,680. The average (mean) wage of $46,420 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $30,310 | $14.57 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $36,350 | $17.48 | |
| Median (50th) | $45,010 | $21.64 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $54,300 | $26.11 | |
| 90th percentile | $64,680 | $31.10 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for office clerks, general (SOC 43-9061), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Office clerk salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Office clerks earn the most in District of Columbia at $55,040 a year, and the least in Alabama at $31,200. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $55,040 | 5,670 |
| Colorado | $53,550 | 31,770 |
| Alaska | $51,890 | 3,440 |
| Washington | $50,500 | 49,050 |
| North Dakota | $50,160 | 8,440 |
| Massachusetts | $49,940 | 47,940 |
| Oregon | $49,910 | 27,980 |
| New Hampshire | $49,020 | 12,740 |
| New Jersey | $48,570 | 65,130 |
| California | $48,460 | 311,490 |
| Vermont | $48,310 | 5,100 |
| Connecticut | $48,280 | 23,190 |
| Minnesota | $47,840 | 55,530 |
| Rhode Island | $47,830 | 7,700 |
| Maryland | $47,270 | 27,290 |
| Montana | $46,480 | 10,390 |
| Arizona | $46,420 | 52,710 |
| Virginia | $46,410 | 66,550 |
| New York | $45,890 | 134,280 |
| Illinois | $45,730 | 95,980 |
| Nevada | $45,460 | 20,430 |
| Maine | $45,300 | 11,260 |
| Wisconsin | $44,980 | 51,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,950 | 107,500 |
| Idaho | $44,830 | 20,790 |
| Michigan | $44,820 | 88,030 |
| Indiana | $44,520 | 58,480 |
| Florida | $44,450 | 189,700 |
| Iowa | $44,310 | 23,120 |
| Utah | $44,060 | 36,470 |
| Ohio | $43,680 | 89,310 |
| Wyoming | $42,840 | 6,670 |
| Delaware | $42,740 | 7,230 |
| Missouri | $42,370 | 56,050 |
| Hawaii | $42,340 | 12,930 |
| North Carolina | $41,770 | 67,930 |
| Georgia | $40,590 | 75,390 |
| Texas | $39,000 | 218,470 |
| Tennessee | $38,860 | 49,880 |
| South Dakota | $38,560 | 1,720 |
| Kentucky | $37,870 | 29,750 |
| Nebraska | $37,820 | 10,000 |
| Oklahoma | $37,240 | 31,870 |
| New Mexico | $37,130 | 11,880 |
| Arkansas | $37,050 | 29,940 |
| South Carolina | $36,840 | 42,250 |
| West Virginia | $35,020 | 9,430 |
| Mississippi | $34,900 | 17,600 |
| Louisiana | $32,480 | 31,790 |
| Kansas | $32,370 | 2,130 |
| Alabama | $31,200 | 13,130 |
State median wages for office clerks, general (SOC 43-9061), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for office clerks
The BLS projects employment of office clerks to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 6%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 2,600,000 jobs in 2025 moving toward 2,443,700 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 249,000 openings a year for office clerks. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an office clerk
The typical entry-level education for office clerks is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an office clerk earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $55,040) and the lowest (Alabama, $31,200) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 2,464,940 people work as office clerks in the United States. At $45,010 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Office clerk salary FAQ
How much does an office clerk make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an office clerk is $21.64. The middle half of office clerks earn between $17.48 and $26.11 per hour.
What is the highest office clerk salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of office clerks earn more than $64,680 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an office clerk make a year?
The median annual salary for an office clerk is $45,010. The average (mean) wage of $46,420 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an office clerk a well paid job?
At $45,010 a year, an office clerk earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 2,464,940 people work as office clerks in the United States.
Which state pays office clerks the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for office clerks at $55,040 a year. Colorado ($53,550) and Alaska ($51,890) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an office clerk a good career?
Employment of office clerks is projected to shrink 6% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 249,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an office clerk?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for office clerks as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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