File Clerk Salary in Washington, DC
File Clerks in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $43,270 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,517 take-home, or $2,960 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median file clerk salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,012
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,683
- Medicare (1.45%)$627
- District of Columbia income tax$1,430
- Take-home pay$35,517
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
File Clerk pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,870 | $16.28 | $28,528 | $2,377 |
| 25th percentile | $37,280 | $17.92 | $31,064 | $2,589 |
| Median (50th) | $43,270 | $20.80 | $35,517 | $2,960 |
| 75th percentile | $49,070 | $23.59 | $39,830 | $3,319 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,130 | $28.43 | $47,294 | $3,941 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,270 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median file clerk's $35,517 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,619 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
File Clerk jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for file clerks, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #29 of 31 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 | San Jose, CA | $60,840 | $48,574 | $43,989 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $46,990 | $39,936 | $41,455 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $46,400 | $39,462 | $40,241 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $52,280 | $40,442 | $38,362 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $54,910 | $44,242 | $38,268 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $46,700 | $37,903 | $37,881 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $49,180 | $40,057 | $37,632 |
| 29 | Washington, DC | $43,270 | $35,517 | $32,619 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 31 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a file clerk make in Washington, DC?
The median file clerk salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $43,270 a year, or about $20.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,280 and $49,070.
What is a file clerk’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $43,270 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $35,517 a year ($2,960 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,430 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a file clerk?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $43,600. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,619 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #29 of 31 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a file clerk afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 67% of a median file clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $90,320
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $77,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $76,400
- Brokerage Clerk — $66,860
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $66,130
- Postal Service Clerk — $64,630
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $64,250
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $63,440
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $61,760
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $61,260
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $60,990
- Procurement Clerk — $60,650