| Office Clerks, General | |||||||||||
| Summary Occupational Forecast Data for Office Clerks, General | |||||||||||
| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23,383 | 24,264 | 881 | 3.77% | 176 | 3,415 | 3,592 | $21.54 | $44,802 | High school diploma or equivalent | ||
| Description: | Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring limited knowledge of office management 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, stenography, office machine operation, and filing. | ||||||||||
| 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.
- Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints.
- Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages.
- Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities.
- Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.
- Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports.
- Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer.
- Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.
- Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests.
- Deliver messages and run errands.
- Inventory and order materials, supplies, and services.
- Complete work schedules, manage calendars, and arrange appointments.
- Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents, from notes or dictating machines, using computers or typewriters.
- Troubleshoot problems involving office equipment, such as computer hardware and software.
Knowledge
| 88% | 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. |
| 76% | 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. |
| 69% | English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
| 65% | Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. |
| 65% | 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. |
| 65% | Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| 56% | Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| 56% | Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| 56% | Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
| 53% | Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people. |
| 50% | Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
| 69% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
| 69% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
| 65% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. |
| 65% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
| 62% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |
| 62% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. |
| 60% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
| 53% | Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways. |
| 53% | 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% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
| 53% | 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% | Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. |
| 50% | Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). |
| 87% | Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| 85% | 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% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| 72% | Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. |
| 69% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| 69% | 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. |
| 68% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| 67% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| 64% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| 59% | 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. |
| 57% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| 56% | 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. |
| 55% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| 53% | Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
| Title | Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed |
| Overall Experience | Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public. |
| Job Training | Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. |
| Job Zone Examples | These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include sheet metal workers, forest fire fighters, customer service representatives, physical therapist aides, salespersons (retail), and tellers. |
| Education | These occupations usually require a high school diploma. |
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. |
| Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outsi |
| Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others. |
| Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. |
| Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. |
| Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. |
| Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. |
| Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. |
| Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. |
| Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. |
| Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
| Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. |
| Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. |
| 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. |