File Clerk Salary in Houston, TX
File Clerks in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $41,400 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,445 take-home, or $2,954 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median file clerk salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,788
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,567
- Medicare (1.45%)$600
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$35,445
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
File Clerk pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,640 | $14.25 | $25,996 | $2,166 |
| 25th percentile | $34,480 | $16.58 | $29,885 | $2,490 |
| Median (50th) | $41,400 | $19.90 | $35,445 | $2,954 |
| 75th percentile | $53,520 | $25.73 | $45,183 | $3,765 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,580 | $30.57 | $53,267 | $4,439 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,400 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median file clerk's $35,445 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,938 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.7× the national concentration of file clerk jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for file clerks, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #2 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $58,320 | $46,298 | $44,691 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $41,400 | $35,445 | $35,938 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $42,850 | $36,610 | $35,513 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $48,450 | $39,523 | $34,802 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $44,710 | $36,287 | $32,237 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: file clerks
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)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
File Clerk salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $42,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a file clerk make in Houston, TX?
The median file clerk salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $41,400 a year, or about $19.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,480 and $53,520.
What is a file clerk’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $41,400 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $35,445 a year ($2,954 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a file clerk?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $43,600. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,938 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #2 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a file clerk afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median file clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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