Office Clerk Jobs in the United States

Office Clerk Jobs Overview

Office clerk jobs are the backbone of many companies across every industry. Education, human resources, government agencies, healthcare, administration, you name it. People in office clerk jobs can specialize in a single area or carry out a mixture of responsibilities. These include:

• clerical tasks
• customer service support
• bookkeeping
• data entry

Most office clerks work full-time, 40 hours a week on a classic nine-to-five schedule. Working part-time is also common though.

The exact responsibilities of those who cover office clerk jobs can change based on the type and size of the organization they work for. Nevertheless, you'll typically:

• Answer the phone and redirect calls to the appropriate departments or colleagues.
• Receive and sort correspondence as well as emails.
• Welcome clients, provide general information, and schedule appointments.
• Handle bookkeeping, bills, and other office documents.
• Attend meetings and write minutes, memos, and reports about them.
• Complete tasks using office equipment such as printers, scanners, copiers, etc.
• Manage and order office supplies.

Salaries for Office Clerk Jobs

The salary for an office clerk is $34,367 per year on average but you could earn anything from $27,496 to $44,562. Different education paths, industries, experience levels, company sizes, and your location can substantially increase your earnings.

For example, employees in office clerk jobs bring home the most in the following industries:

• natural gas distribution: $75,150 per year
• pipeline transportation of crude oil: $67,930 per year
• postal service (federal government): $65,370 per year
• electric power generation, transmission, and distribution: $56,970 per year
• rail transportation: $53,660 per year

If we look at locations, you could earn highest in:

• District of Columbia: $51,700 per year
• Colorado: $49,980 per year
• Washington: $47,910 per year
• Alaska: $47,840 per year
• North Dakota: $47,380 per year

Check out how that compares to your city on Monster's Salary Calculator. On this page, you'll also find the median wages for similar positions, along with suggestions for skills to help you advance in your field.

How to Find the Best Office Clerk Jobs for You

Looking for a new job can be overwhelming. With a proper strategy, however, it's easier than you think. And we're here to help you.

Define What You Want

Ask yourself what's important to you and what truly interests you. Here are a few factors to consider:

• Industry: Are you interested or have experience in a particular industry?
• Work environment: Would you rather work in a small company or a more structured one?
• Work flexibility: What kind of office arrangements are you comfortable with? Full-time in the office, hybrid or remote?
• Tasks: Are there particular tasks you prefer over others or have more experience in? Maybe you prefer data entry over customer service-related responsibilities, for example.

Identify the Right Company for You

Use the above to guide you when screening companies and job ads. Then go a step further and carefully go through the job openings and the companies' official websites to read between the lines and find out more. Last, search for previous employees' reviews. They'll give you a better idea of what to expect from a company. All this helps you decide on the company for you.

How to Apply to Office Clerk Jobs

Once you find interesting office clerk jobs to apply for, it's time to start working on your job applications. Your resume and cover letter are the stars of the show. Here are our recommended actions to catch recruiters' attention with them.

Update Your Resume for Office Clerk Jobs

When you write a resume for any administrative position, you should make sure that your document demonstrates that you have the skills you claim. For example, an office clerk must be organized and pay attention to detail so your resume should appear the same. Resume templates are great tools to help you build a clean document. Check out all our administrative resume samples to get inspired.

Numbers are surely your bread and butter as an administrative clerk. Why not include relevant metrics in your resume as well. They provide recruiters with a clear and objective picture of what you're capable of. Here are a few examples:

• number of emails and calls handled daily
• contact volumes by channel
• customer satisfaction and retention
• number of customer support tickets
• average number of job vacancies
• new hire training success
• time to produce daily and monthly reports

On top of that, make sure to include relevant skills in your resume. Check the job ad directly for the best keywords. Some of the most sought-after include:

• organization
• attention to detail
• customer service orientation
• being computer savvy
• time-management

Finally, sign up to Monster's Resume Writing Services, if you need extra support. We'll help identify the best keywords for your target job and present your skills and experiences in the most effective way.

Office Clerk Cover Letter Tips

To expand on your achievements, long-term objectives, and your motivations to pursue the job, write a cover letter. The three pillars for a compelling one are:

1. Grab recruiters' attention from the first sentence. State what job you're applying for and what qualifications you have that make you a good fit.
2. Present your skills and experiences right. Avoid simply listing your skills and experiences. Instead, explain the experiences through which you acquired those skills and how you've used them for successful outcomes.
3. Show enthusiasm for the role and the company. This is crucial. Explain why you want to work for that specific company rather than being vague and generic.

Have a look at our administrative assistant cover letter for more guidance.

Now that your resume and cover letter are ready to shine, set up a free account on Monster, upload them and start applying. Next time you find a suitable opening, you can apply in seconds. Plus, you'll get alerts every time new job vacancies matching your preferences pop up. So, you'll never miss an opportunity.

How to Follow Up with an Employer

Should you follow up after sending in your application if you're really interested in a role? Absolutely! Do it the right way by following our advice.

Wait for the Right Time

To begin with, be patient and wait at least a week before reaching out. Companies tend to receive a lot of resumes for office clerk jobs. Depending on the size of the company, they might need some time to evaluate every candidate.

Find the Right Person

Address a real person in your follow-up, not the generic "To whom it may concern." Look up the contact details of the person managing the vacancy. If you're lucky you might find an email address in the job ad. If you can't find it, it's perfectly acceptable to give the company a call to ask.

Write the Right Message

The perfect follow-up email is nice and short. No need for lengthy messages here. Remind them you applied for the office clerk job and which qualifications and skills make you a good fit. Then ask for an update. Don't forget to attach your resume as well, so the recruiter will be able to go through it immediately.

Interviewing Tips for Office Clerk Jobs

Did you receive some callbacks after sending out your resumes? Good job! Now, it’s time to get ready for your job interview. Here's how to proceed:

Interview Types

First things first, if it's not clear already, clarify what kind of job interview you'll be facing. This is because, for example, a panel interview requires a different degree of preparation than a screening call. The most common interview types are:

• screen interview
• virtual interview
• behavioral interview
• case interview
• panel interview

Research the Company

Next, learn as much as you can about the company you're meeting with. Showing your knowledge can improve the outcome of the interview. Visit their website and official social media pages to read about their mission and values and try to grasp their culture.

Get Your Answers Ready

Practice answers to the most common questions for your industry and specific role. As an office clerk you're likely going to run into the following questions:

• Why do you want to be an office clerk?
• How do you manage a large workload?
• How do you prioritize your work if you receive multiple requests from different staff members?
• In your opinion, what are three crucial skills for office clerks?

Take a look at our sample administrative assistant interview questions for more examples and tips for crafting your replies. Plus, increase your chances of success by following a few easy tricks to boost your interview performance.

Follow up After the Interview

You felt the interview went well and you liked the company a lot. Now you just need to wait, right? Not exactly. Send a thank-you email to the recruiter within 24 hours of the interview. It's crucial to consolidate the impression you made on the recruiter.

A short message touching on the following points will do the trick:

• Express gratitude for the interview opportunity.
• Briefly recap what you learned about the company and how it fits your career goals.
• Remind them what qualifications and skills make you the right candidate.
• Ask about the next step in the recruitment process or an update on the timeline.

Finally, if after a week or so you still haven't heard about their decision, reach out with a follow-up call or email.

What to Do When You Get an Offer

Congratulations on receiving an offer for an office clerk role! Landing a job is always an exciting achievement you should celebrate. But, there are a few steps you should take before deciding if you're going to accept or decline the job offer.

Express Gratitude

First, thank the recruiter or hiring manager for the offer. Expressing appreciation for the company's recruitment efforts shows professionalism. Plus, it allows you to start off the relationship with your new employer on the right foot.

Take Your Time

Next, politely ask for some time to go through the offer. This is especially important if you're juggling interviews for various office clerk jobs and want to buy time. 24 to 72 hours is a good timeframe but always confirm with the employer.

Assess the Offer

Carefully read all the terms of the contract proposal. Are the responsibilities, job title, compensation, benefits, and other perks clearly spelled out and what you expected? You must have a clear understanding of what they're offering. If not, ask for clarification.

Negotiate

If you're unhappy with any part of the offer, build your case to negotiate. Even if they've already stated they won't budge on the pay, there are many other terms you can work with. Job title, PTO, sign-on bonus, or flexibility are just a few examples.

Office Clerk Job Career Paths

Office clerk jobs build skills that can help you access various careers within an organization. Based on your interests and willingness to specialize with additional education or certifications, here are some options to consider:

• Administrative Assistant. Experienced office clerks can quickly advance to administrative assistant roles. In this position, you'd support executives, managers, or entire departments in more complex administrative tasks.
• Office Manager. If organization and leadership are your strong suits, becoming an office manager could be for you. Office managers oversee the day-to-day operations of an office. They manage budgets, coordinate projects, and ensure administrative processes run smoothly.
• Customer Service Representative. Do you have excellent communication skills and love to interact with people? Transitioning from office clerk tasks to customer service could be the right move for you. You'll engage with clients by addressing their concerns, checking orders or more.
• Data Entry Specialist. If you choose to specialize in data entry you'll input, verify, and update data into systems, databases, or spreadsheets. Once you gain experience, you could also be involved in data analysis and quality control.
• Human Resources Assistant. Interested in all things personnel? Human Resources could be your next career step. In this role you'd maintain employee records, assist in recruiting processes, and organize training programs.

Similar Occupations

Looking for more opportunities like office clerk? Check out all the administrative jobs on Monster such as:

• accounts receivable clerk jobs
• billing clerk jobs
• court clerk jobs