Office Clerks, General
Also called: Clerk, Office Assistant, Office Clerk, Office Services SpecialistPerform 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 15 of its 20 tasks, and jobs are projected to shrink 6.0% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.6% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.9 hires for every 10 job openings in professional and business services, which employs about 17% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.9 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $31,200 | $25,240 to $38,020 | 13,130 |
| Alaska | $51,890 | $43,320 to $62,610 | 3,440 |
| Arizona | $46,420 | $38,230 to $55,950 | 52,710 |
| Arkansas | $37,050 | $30,580 to $45,560 | 29,940 |
| California | $48,460 | $40,430 to $60,110 | 311,490 |
| Colorado | $53,550 | $46,340 to $65,100 | 31,770 |
| Connecticut | $48,280 | $40,630 to $58,410 | 23,190 |
| Delaware | $42,740 | $33,840 to $51,680 | 7,230 |
| District of Columbia | $55,040 | $46,530 to $65,570 | 5,670 |
| Florida | $44,450 | $36,070 to $53,950 | 189,700 |
| Georgia | $40,590 | $34,460 to $48,680 | 75,390 |
| Guam | $26,470 | $21,890 to $31,330 | 760 |
| Hawaii | $42,340 | $36,600 to $50,840 | 12,930 |
| Idaho | $44,830 | $36,910 to $51,390 | 20,790 |
| Illinois | $45,730 | $37,060 to $55,260 | 95,980 |
| Indiana | $44,520 | $36,010 to $52,310 | 58,480 |
| Iowa | $44,310 | $36,180 to $51,830 | 23,120 |
| Kansas | $32,370 | $22,570 to $49,480 | 2,130 |
| Kentucky | $37,870 | $30,430 to $46,760 | 29,750 |
| Louisiana | $32,480 | $25,400 to $39,500 | 31,790 |
| Maine | $45,300 | $38,950 to $50,500 | 11,260 |
| Maryland | $47,270 | $38,580 to $59,330 | 27,290 |
| Massachusetts | $49,940 | $42,350 to $60,150 | 47,940 |
| Michigan | $44,820 | $36,490 to $52,920 | 88,030 |
| Minnesota | $47,840 | $40,080 to $57,720 | 55,530 |
| Mississippi | $34,900 | $27,520 to $42,800 | 17,600 |
| Missouri | $42,370 | $35,190 to $50,940 | 56,050 |
| Montana | $46,480 | $38,630 to $57,150 | 10,390 |
| Nebraska | $37,820 | $32,170 to $45,740 | 10,000 |
| Nevada | $45,460 | $36,780 to $55,280 | 20,430 |
| New Hampshire | $49,020 | $40,060 to $59,650 | 12,740 |
| New Jersey | $48,570 | $39,510 to $59,190 | 65,130 |
| New Mexico | $37,130 | $31,820 to $43,920 | 11,880 |
| New York | $45,890 | $36,840 to $54,280 | 134,280 |
| North Carolina | $41,770 | $34,520 to $49,900 | 67,930 |
| North Dakota | $50,160 | $42,680 to $62,100 | 8,440 |
| Ohio | $43,680 | $34,910 to $52,000 | 89,310 |
| Oklahoma | $37,240 | $29,750 to $46,680 | 31,870 |
| Oregon | $49,910 | $42,340 to $58,790 | 27,980 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,950 | $36,910 to $52,690 | 107,500 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,860 | $21,940 to $29,290 | 20,190 |
| Rhode Island | $47,830 | $39,670 to $58,930 | 7,700 |
| South Carolina | $36,840 | $28,900 to $45,620 | 42,250 |
| South Dakota | $38,560 | $31,380 to $45,110 | 1,720 |
| Tennessee | $38,860 | $32,130 to $47,750 | 49,880 |
| Texas | $39,000 | $30,750 to $48,720 | 218,470 |
| Utah | $44,060 | $35,500 to $53,660 | 36,470 |
| Vermont | $48,310 | $41,720 to $55,990 | 5,100 |
| Virgin Islands | $37,330 | $30,030 to $49,570 | 560 |
| Virginia | $46,410 | $37,600 to $56,780 | 66,550 |
| Washington | $50,500 | $44,700 to $61,320 | 49,050 |
| West Virginia | $35,020 | $28,800 to $42,770 | 9,430 |
| Wisconsin | $44,980 | $36,730 to $51,580 | 51,440 |
| Wyoming | $42,840 | $35,610 to $52,710 | 6,670 |
Nationally: $45,010. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 15 of its 20 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers. | Not published |
| AI alone | Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints. | 0.02% |
| AI alone | Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests. | 0.70% |
| Not much | Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer. | under 0.01% |
See all 20 tasks
| AI + software | Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents, from notes or dictating machines, using computers or typewriters. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Deliver messages and run errands. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Complete work schedules, manage calendars, and arrange appointments. | 0.01% |
| AI + software | Inventory and order materials, supplies, and services. | Not published |
| AI alone | Complete and mail bills, contracts, policies, invoices, or checks. | Not published |
| Not much | Collect, count, and disburse money, do basic bookkeeping, and complete banking transactions. | Not published |
| Not much | Train other staff members to perform work activities, such as using computer applications. | Not published |
| AI + software | Count, weigh, measure, or organize materials. | 0.02% |
| Not much | Troubleshoot problems involving office equipment, such as computer hardware and software. | Not published |
| AI alone | Process and prepare documents, such as business or government forms and expense reports. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Prepare meeting agendas, attend meetings, and record and transcribe minutes. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Monitor and direct the work of lower-level clerks. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 11 of the 20 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 20 tasks fall under 24 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #1 Gather information from physical or electronic sources
- #3 Respond to customer problems or inquiries
- #11 Provide information to guests, clients, or customers
- and 2 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or compliance | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Gather information from physical or electronic sources | |||
| Respond to customer problems or inquiries | |||
| Provide information to guests, clients, or customers | |||
| Perform administrative or clerical activities | |||
| Compile records, documentation, or other data |
Show all 24 activities
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits | |||
| Execute financial transactions | |||
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Operate office equipment | |||
| Schedule appointments | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Sort materials or products | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Assign work to others | |||
| Monitor resources or inventories | |||
| Distribute materials, supplies, or resources | |||
| Process shipments or mail | |||
| Reconcile financial data | |||
| Collect fares or payments | |||
| Supervise personnel activities |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- An analysis or summary24%
- A document or report20%
- An explanation or answer12%
- An email or message4%
- Data or a spreadsheet4%
How they worked with Claude
60% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for office clerks, general specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 972,390 moves out
- 1 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 6%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 3 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 3%
- 4 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 3%
- 5 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Very high +0.1% 2%
Where people moved in from
of 701,137 moves in
- 1 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 5%
- 2 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 5%
- 3 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 5%
- 4 Cashiers High -6.5% 4%
- 5 Waiters and Waitresses Moderate +2.0% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 2% less than high school
- 41% high school
- 7% postsecondary certificate
- 15% some college
- 36% associate's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 75 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 5% less than high school
- 30% high school
- 30% some college
- 13% associate's
- 18% bachelor's
- 4% master's
- 1% professional degree
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 14,005 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
1 program: General Office Occupations and Clerical Services.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
9.9% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| a certification | <0.5% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (HEALTH UNIT COORDINATOR). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Office Clerks, General” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/43-9061.00