Information and Record Clerks

How to become a File Clerk

Official title: File Clerks

Also called: Claims Clerk, Clerk, Clerk Typist, Documentation Specialist, File Clerk, Medical Records Clerk, Office Assistant, Police Records Clerk, Records Clerk, Records Custodian

File correspondence, cards, invoices, receipts, and other records in alphabetical or numerical order or according to the filing system used. Locate and remove material from file when requested.

Main tasks

Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials.
Keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports.
Gather materials to be filed from departments or employees.
Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users.
Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary.
Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.
Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed.
Eliminate outdated or unnecessary materials, destroying them or transferring them to inactive storage, according to file maintenance guidelines or legal requirements.

How to become one

Information clerks typically need a high school diploma and learn their skills on the job. Some employers may prefer to hire candidates with some college education or an associate's degree, depending on the occupation.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $43,600 a year The middle half earn $36,420 to $51,770.
About 76,200 people work in this job now, and about 64,200 are projected by 2035. (-15.8%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a File Clerk?

How much does a File Clerk earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $43,600 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $36,420 to $51,770.

Is a File Clerk a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 16% by 2035, from about 76,200 to about 64,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a File Clerk?

Not always. 30% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a File Clerk?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.