How to become a general office support worker

Official title: General office support workers

Also called: Office clerk, Office assistant, Junior office clerk, General office clerk, General office worker, Records support clerk, Municipal office clerk, Office machine operator, Office administration clerk, Dietetics office clerk - hospital, Typist, Map clerk

General office support workers prepare correspondence, reports, statements and other material, operate office equipment, answer telephones, verify, record and process forms and documents such as contracts and requisitions and perform general clerical duties according to established procedures. They are employed in offices throughout the public and private sectors.

Main tasks

• General office support workers
• Respond to telephone, in person or electronic enquiries or forward to appropriate person
• Prepare correspondence, reports, statements, forms, presentations, applications and other documents
• Process incoming and outgoing mail, manually or electronically
• Photocopy and collate documents for distribution, mailing and filing
• Send and receive messages and documents using fax machine or electronic mail
• Maintain inventory of office supplies, order supplies as required and arrange for servicing of office equipment
• Assist in preparing meeting agendas, attend meetings, and record minutes

How to become one

Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of secondary school or college business or commercial courses is usually required.

See the full NOC 2021 profile

Pay · Outlook

• Median pay: $46,781 a year The middle half earn $38,025 to $55,575.
• About 129,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 126,700 are projected by 2033. (-1.9%)
• Projected labour market to 2033: balance.

Related jobs

• Receptionists
• Personnel clerks
• Court clerks and related court services occupations

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Questions people ask

How do I become a general office support worker?

Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of secondary school or college business or commercial courses is usually required.

How much does a general office support worker earn in Canada?

Median full-time pay is $46,781 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $38,025 to $55,575.

Is a general office support worker a growing career in Canada?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2033: about 129,200 people now and 126,700 later (Employment and Social Development Canada).

Do you need a degree to become a general office support worker?

Usually not. Only 21% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

• Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03