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The differences between clerks and file clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a file clerk has an average salary of $31,562, which is higher than the $31,163 average annual salary of a clerk.
The top three skills for a clerk include basic math, math and data entry. The most important skills for a file clerk are data entry, office equipment, and numerical order.
| Clerk | File Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $31,163 | $31,562 |
| Hourly rate | $14.98 | $15.17 |
| Growth rate | -5% | - |
| Number of jobs | 80,311 | 66,383 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
Clerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies. Clerks should have good office skills, communication skills, business writing skills, and time management skills. They should also be able to treat any document or paperwork they handle with confidentiality.
File clerks are employees who do a variety of clerical and administrative tasks, usually related to documents in the office. They are responsible for the safekeeping of various files, records, or documents of the company. They keep track of records, ensure that documents are properly stored, and maintain a system of organizing files. They are also in charge of managing digital files and also assist in the digitization of hard copies of documents. They ensure that documentary records are updated and filed or uploaded accurately. File clerks should be organized, should have a keen eye for detail, and should be trustworthy.
Clerks and file clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clerk | File Clerk | |
| Average salary | $31,163 | $31,562 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $25,000 And $38,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Washington |
| Best paying company | University of Massachusetts Boston | Williams Parker |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a clerk and a file clerk in terms of educational background:
| Clerk | File Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between clerks' and file clerks' demographics:
| Clerk | File Clerk | |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 7.7% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 5.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |