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The differences between general clerks and data clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a general clerk and a data clerk. Additionally, a general clerk has an average salary of $33,254, which is higher than the $31,550 average annual salary of a data clerk.
The top three skills for a general clerk include customer service, data entry and office procedures. The most important skills for a data clerk are database systems, computer entry, and office equipment.
| General Clerk | Data Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $33,254 | $31,550 |
| Hourly rate | $15.99 | $15.17 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 141,570 | 147,935 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
General clerks are responsible for a variety of miscellaneous and administrative tasks within an organization. These include answering and transferring calls, sorting and delivering incoming emails, and scheduling appointments. They are also responsible for providing information to clients and staff members, preparing and processing bills and office documents, and performing data entry tasks. General clerks are often employed in almost all industries. This position typically requires a high school diploma and basic knowledge of computer applications such as spreadsheet software and word processing.
A data clerk is responsible for performing administrative support tasks, mainly focusing on data-entry. Their responsibilities typically include updating databases, maintaining records on spreadsheets and other documents, preparing and processing files, creating and organizing reports, coordinating with different departments to gather or disseminate data, and performing research and analysis. They may also handle calls and correspondence, monitor schedules and office supply inventory, and complete support tasks for staff as necessary. Furthermore, as a data clerk, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with teams and adhere to the company's data security policies and regulations.
General clerks and data clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Clerk | Data Clerk | |
| Average salary | $33,254 | $31,550 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $40,000 | Between $25,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Nevada |
| Best paying company | National Grid plc | Armstrong Flooring |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a general clerk and a data clerk in terms of educational background:
| General Clerk | Data Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between general clerks' and data clerks' demographics:
| General Clerk | Data Clerk | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.1% Female, 66.9% | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 9.2% White, 53.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.9% Asian, 7.6% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |