CareerGPS

Municipal Clerks
Summary Occupational Forecast Data for Court, Municipal, and License Clerks
Employment Employment Change Average Annual Job Openings Wage & Training Levels
2020 2025 Numerical Percent New Jobs Replacement Jobs Total Median Hourly Median Annual Training Levels
2,136 2,376 240 11.25% 48 269 317 $25.92 $53,923 High school diploma or equivalent
Description: Draft agendas and bylaws for town or city council; record minutes of council meetings; answer official correspondence; keep fiscal records and accounts; and prepare reports on civic needs.
Forecast Data Source: EMSI (4th Quarter 2023)

Occupation Details

The information in this section represents occupational characteristics included in O*NET which defines key features of an occupation as a standardized, measurable set of variables called "descriptors". These distinguishing characteristics of an occupation are described in greater detail in the O*NET Content Model. All items are listed in descending order of importance.

  • Participate in the administration of municipal elections, such as preparation or distribution of ballots, appointment or training of election officers, or tabulation or certification of results.
  • Record and edit the minutes of meetings and distribute to appropriate officials or staff members.
  • Plan and direct the maintenance, filing, safekeeping, and computerization of all municipal documents.
  • Issue public notification of all official activities or meetings.
  • Maintain and update documents, such as municipal codes or city charters.
  • Prepare meeting agendas or packets of related information.
  • Prepare ordinances, resolutions, or proclamations so that they can be executed, recorded, archived, or distributed.
  • Respond to requests for information from the public, other municipalities, state officials, or state and federal legislative offices.
  • Maintain fiscal records and accounts.
  • Perform budgeting duties, such as assisting in budget preparation, expenditure review, or budget administration.
  • Perform general office duties, such as taking or transcribing dictation, typing or proofreading correspondence, distributing or filing official forms, or scheduling appointments.
  • Coordinate or maintain office tracking systems for correspondence or follow-up actions.
  • Research information in the municipal archives upon request of public officials or private citizens.
  • Perform contract administration duties, assisting with bid openings or the awarding of contracts.
  • Collaborate with other staff to assist in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, or priorities.
  • Represent municipalities at community events or serve as liaisons on community committees.
  • Serve as a notary of the public.

Knowledge

86%
Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
84%
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
74%
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
71%
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
59%
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
59%
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
50%
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
50%
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Skills

72%
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
69%
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
65%
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
62%
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
56%
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
56%
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
56%
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
50%
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
50%
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Abilities

72%
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
72%
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
69%
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
66%
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
62%
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
56%
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
56%
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
53%
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
50%
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
50%
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Work Activities

86%
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
79%
Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
79%
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
79%
Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
77%
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
77%
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
74%
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
71%
Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
71%
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
70%
Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
64%
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
63%
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
62%
Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
56%
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
55%
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
55%
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
52%
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Title Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Overall Experience Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Job Zone Examples These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include food service managers, electricians, agricultural technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.
Education Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Interests

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Styles

Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Work Values

Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.