File Clerk Salary
File Clerks earn a median $43,600 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
U.S. median
$43,600
$20.96 per hour
Range
$31,200 – $63,490
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
73,440
across the U.S.
▲5.6%
Pay trend: The median for file clerks in the U.S. rose from $41,270 (May 2024) to $43,600 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.2%.
What file clerks do
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.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -15.8% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 5,600
- Self-employed
- 1%
Employment of file clerks is projected to shrink 15.8% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,600 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
File Clerk take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$37,213
per year · effective tax rate 14.6%
$3,101Monthly
$1,551Twice a month
$1,431Every 2 weeks
$17.89Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,052
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,703
- Medicare (1.45%)$632
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$37,213
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $27,249 |
| 25th percentile | $36,420 | $17.51 | $31,443 |
| Median (50th) | $43,600 | $20.96 | $37,213 |
| 75th percentile | $51,770 | $24.89 | $43,777 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,490 | $30.52 | $53,194 |
Best cities for file clerks (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $58,320 | $46,298 | $44,691 | 2,640 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $41,400 | $35,445 | $35,938 | 2,580 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $42,850 | $36,610 | $35,513 | 3,170 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $48,450 | $39,523 | $34,802 | 3,930 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $44,710 | $36,287 | $32,237 | 3,260 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Chicago, IL — $58,320
- Los Angeles, CA — $48,450
- New York, NY — $44,710
- Dallas, TX — $42,850
- Houston, TX — $41,400
File Clerk salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $50,660 | +2.7% | $39,282 | $33,860 – $67,240 | 970 |
| Hawaii | $50,630 | +9.5% | $40,532 | $32,190 – $64,660 | 100 |
| Illinois | $49,920 | +7.8% | $39,964 | $32,120 – $73,040 | 3,780 |
| Alaska | $49,910 | +13.4% | $42,283 | $34,370 – $65,030 | 150 |
| California | $49,040 | +4.5% | $39,954 | $36,780 – $78,100 | 9,520 |
| Massachusetts | $48,310 | +3.7% | $38,802 | $37,430 – $70,210 | 600 |
| Vermont | $47,540 | +19.2% | $39,220 | $32,940 – $61,780 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $46,640 | +2.9% | $37,979 | $39,250 – $61,840 | 760 |
| Iowa | $46,560 | +3.6% | $38,473 | $33,390 – $63,480 | 430 |
| Colorado | $46,490 | +12.0% | $38,198 | $35,140 – $62,550 | 1,130 |
| Idaho | $45,910 | +13.8% | $37,744 | $29,600 – $50,460 | 540 |
| Washington | $45,830 | −2.7% | $39,004 | $36,410 – $63,670 | 520 |
| Wisconsin | $45,130 | +1.1% | $37,237 | $31,370 – $61,160 | 1,550 |
| Maryland | $44,920 | +0.7% | $36,503 | $35,950 – $60,530 | 880 |
| Connecticut | $44,810 | +6.5% | $37,093 | $34,010 – $68,190 | 350 |
| New Jersey | $44,400 | −0.3% | $36,950 | $33,370 – $65,100 | 2,310 |
| New Hampshire | $44,390 | +4.1% | $37,847 | $29,950 – $58,920 | 300 |
| New York | $44,340 | +3.0% | $36,010 | $34,270 – $59,770 | 2,590 |
| Nevada | $44,150 | +17.0% | $37,655 | $33,280 – $61,160 | 1,110 |
| Michigan | $43,950 | +3.1% | $35,877 | $31,750 – $61,900 | 1,820 |
| Maine | $43,910 | +8.3% | $35,679 | $37,430 – $51,860 | 210 |
| Arizona | $43,690 | +5.6% | $36,401 | $34,820 – $56,950 | 2,190 |
| North Carolina | $43,260 | −0.4% | $35,722 | $31,520 – $56,790 | 1,970 |
| Tennessee | $43,010 | +2.5% | $36,739 | $26,460 – $59,020 | 2,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,920 | +4.1% | $35,349 | $32,270 – $60,180 | 2,830 |
| North Dakota | $42,860 | +2.3% | $36,618 | $37,650 – $59,020 | 60 |
| Kansas | $42,130 | +7.8% | $34,480 | $31,940 – $56,430 | 570 |
| Florida | $41,750 | +6.1% | $35,726 | $31,010 – $56,550 | 6,180 |
| Utah | $41,450 | +7.2% | $34,586 | $31,240 – $53,160 | 510 |
| Georgia | $41,000 | +9.3% | $33,618 | $29,740 – $59,710 | 2,570 |
| Ohio | $40,650 | −4.6% | $34,507 | $27,190 – $57,410 | 1,820 |
| Nebraska | $40,640 | +5.0% | $33,865 | $30,300 – $55,050 | 750 |
| Delaware | $39,940 | +7.2% | $32,732 | $31,200 – $52,730 | — |
| Virginia | $39,900 | −9.9% | $32,760 | $31,200 – $56,970 | 2,110 |
| Indiana | $39,740 | +2.4% | $32,968 | $32,230 – $61,470 | 1,430 |
| Texas | $39,480 | +5.6% | $33,902 | $27,380 – $61,800 | 11,340 |
| South Carolina | $39,350 | +1.3% | $32,594 | $27,710 – $56,800 | 1,210 |
| Kentucky | $39,250 | +17.1% | $32,461 | $27,450 – $57,280 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $39,170 | +0.7% | $32,436 | $27,980 – $57,990 | 1,440 |
| Arkansas | $38,470 | +4.3% | $31,803 | $28,230 – $53,150 | 310 |
| Missouri | $38,400 | +3.1% | $32,167 | $29,750 – $57,770 | 1,000 |
| Montana | $38,370 | +6.1% | $31,964 | $25,150 – $49,660 | 410 |
| Alabama | $38,290 | +6.3% | $31,297 | $30,320 – $61,930 | 110 |
| New Mexico | $37,700 | +2.3% | $31,818 | $25,700 – $52,130 | 340 |
| South Dakota | $36,640 | +0.8% | $31,620 | $31,930 – $37,900 | — |
| Rhode Island | $36,400 | −24.9% | $30,679 | $32,390 – $62,840 | — |
| Louisiana | $32,200 | +7.2% | $27,473 | $20,920 – $44,150 | 680 |
| West Virginia | $31,600 | −10.0% | $26,751 | $26,340 – $47,650 | 260 |
| Mississippi | $31,260 | — | $26,779 | $25,210 – $44,200 | — |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk | $44,390 | High school diploma or equivalent | +2.5% |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.3% |
| Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | $45,920 | High school diploma or equivalent | -10.4% |
| Order Clerk | $46,170 | Some college, no degree | -17.5% |
| Correspondence Clerk | $46,800 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.6% |
| New Accounts Clerk | $47,670 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.5% |
| Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | $48,700 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.4% |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.7% |
| Information and Record Clerks, All Other | $49,500 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.8% |
| Loan Interviewer and Clerk | $50,020 | High school diploma or equivalent | -2.4% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a file clerk make?
The national median salary for file clerks is $43,600 a year ($20.96 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,200 and the top 10% earn over $63,490. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays file clerks the most?
Oregon has the highest median pay at $50,660. After taxes and local prices, Chicago, IL offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many file clerks are there in the U.S.?
About 73,440 people work as file clerks nationwide.