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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $43,630 in the US and is projected to decline by 7% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows high AI exposure (0.83 on a 0-1 scale) — significant portions of core tasks are already being automated. The most in-demand skills for the role include Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Coordination.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £33,000 a year for National government administrative occupations (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £29,021 to £41,617 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 4111). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Clerical support workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Office clerks, general, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 4. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification Class 12 pass[1]
- 2 · Entrance exam SSC Combined Higher Secondary Level (CHSL) Examination[1]
- 3 · First role Lower Division Clerk / Junior Secretariat Assistant in a central government office[1]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- SSC — Combined Higher Secondary (10+2) Level Examination notice (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Administrative
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- Public Safety and Security
A day in the life
You arrive at the office, switch on the computers and printers and check the voicemail for messages left overnight. The phones start ringing soon after, and you answer calls, direct them to the right person and take clear messages. Mid-morning you scan and copy a set of contracts, then file them in both the paper cabinet and the digital system. A customer emails asking about the status of an order, so you look through the records and reply with the details. After lunch you update the inventory spreadsheet, sort incoming mail and prepare letters for posting. You also help a colleague prepare documents for a meeting. Later you tidy the filing system and order office supplies that are running low. The work can be repetitive and interrupted often, but keeping everything organised and helping colleagues and customers find what they need quickly is valued by everyone around you.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Office clerks, general do?
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 does a typical day look like in Office clerks, general?
You arrive at the office, switch on the computers and printers and check the voicemail for messages left overnight. The phones start ringing soon after, and you answer calls, direct them to the right person and take clear messages. Mid-morning you scan and copy a set of contracts, then file them in both the paper cabinet and the digital system. A customer emails asking about the status of an order, so you look through the records and reply with the details.
How much does Office clerks, general earn?
The median annual salary for Office clerks, general in the US is $43,630.
What is the job outlook for Office clerks, general?
The role is projected to decline by 7% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 2,646,000 workers.
How do I become office clerks, general?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Office clerks, general need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Coordination, Critical Thinking. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Office clerks, general?
Our AI-durability model gives Office clerks, general a score of 0.83 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at high AI risk — many core tasks are already being automated by generative AI and workflow tools. Focus on AI-adjacent skills or plan a pivot to an AI-durable adjacent role.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Office clerks, general has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.