How to hire a general office clerk

How to hire a general office clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step general office clerk hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a general office clerk job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new general office clerk
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a general office clerk do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The general office clerk hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect general office clerk also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of general office clerks.

   Type of General Office Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   General Office Clerk	General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.	$11-18
   Clerk Typist	A clerk typist is responsible for data entry procedures and document transcriptions, alongside other clerical and administrative duties as required by the employer. Clerk typists create reports and presentation materials, transcribe audio meetings, write business drafts, and send documents to appropriate office personnel or clients... Show more	$12-18
   Room Clerk	A room clerk is responsible for receiving guests and assigning them to their respective rooms, typically in a hotel setting. Room clerks manage guests' reservations, explain the policies of the premises, and process their payments for staying at the hotel... Show more	$12-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • Customer Service
   • Office Equipment
   • Front Desk
   • Word Processing
   • Telephone Calls
   • HR
   • PowerPoint
   • Photocopiers
   • Customer Complaints
   • Fax Machines
   • Direct Calls
   • Office Support
   • Database Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Set up PowerPoint presentations using LCD projectors and computers.
   • Update and maintain PowerPoint presentations used for new hire orientation of management and employees.
   • Insert data accurately and expeditiously into the company payroll system for future retrieval.
   • Assist patients with sensitive and detail orient documentation, schedule appointments and verify insurance benefits.
   • Use QuickBooks for purchase order, inventory activities and sales order.
   • Bag groceries, assist customers in locating merchandise, cleaning of store floors, restrooms and shelves.

   More general office clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the general office clerk job description is a good way to get more applicants. A general office clerk salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a general office clerk in West Virginia may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level general office clerk. Additionally, a general office clerk with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average general office clerk salary

   $14.44hourly

   $30,034 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level general office clerk salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average general office clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$36,762	$18
   2	California	$35,506	$17
   3	District of Columbia	$34,900	$17
   4	Colorado	$34,875	$17
   5	Oregon	$34,031	$16
   6	Hawaii	$33,344	$16
   7	Maryland	$32,317	$16
   8	Massachusetts	$31,409	$15
   9	Arizona	$30,657	$15
   10	Minnesota	$30,425	$15
   11	New York	$29,653	$14
   12	Utah	$29,463	$14
   13	Texas	$29,372	$14
   14	Michigan	$29,134	$14
   15	Wyoming	$28,762	$14
   16	Illinois	$28,640	$14
   17	New Jersey	$28,459	$14
   18	Pennsylvania	$28,459	$14
   19	Iowa	$28,279	$14
   20	North Carolina	$28,215	$14

   Average general office clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	USF Reddaway	$37,105	$17.84
   2	Ricoh	$33,217	$15.97	27
   3	Tarrant County	$32,552	$15.65
   4	Triple-S	$32,159	$15.46
   5	Monster Products	$31,380	$15.09	4
   6	Healthcare Resolution Services	$31,290	$15.04
   7	YRC Freight	$30,741	$14.78
   8	Delta Dallas	$30,442	$14.64	1
   9	INDUS Technology	$30,202	$14.52	2
   10	Crowe	$29,710	$14.28
   11	Kelly Services	$29,655	$14.26	32
   12	Adecco	$29,615	$14.24	108
   13	PrideStaff	$29,563	$14.21
   14	ManpowerGroup	$29,146	$14.01	74
   15	PAE	$29,143	$14.01
   16	Empire Distributors	$28,873	$13.88	7
   17	Foster Farms	$28,816	$13.85	3
   18	Tireco, Inc	$28,699	$13.80
   19	Randstad North America, Inc.	$28,627	$13.76	29
   20	Allegiance Benefit Plan Management	$28,333	$13.62

4. Writing a general office clerk job description

   A job description for a general office clerk role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a general office clerk job description:

   General office clerk job description example

   Receives and distributes courier mail, USPS mail and in-coming packages for Horizons Mental Health Center, to the appropriate employee, department or location. Monitor supply levels and submit order requests. Assist with other office support functions and projects as assigned.
   
   Actively participates in outstanding customer service and accepts responsibility in maintaining relationships that are equally respectful to all.
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
   Inspects, receives, and distributes mail and packages for the facility at the Trade Center and other Reno County locations. Maintains accurate and timely records of packages received and distributed. Verifies and insures condition of in-coming packages and denotes damaged product. Monitor office supply levels, and submit requests for replenish stocked items. Performs basic laundry tasks on an as needed basis. Assist with other office support functions and projects as assigned. Abides by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability privacy and security regulations regarding all aspects of Protected Health Information (PHI).
   
   MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED :
   Basic computer skills. Must be able to do math calculations to verify shipment counts. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively.
   
   PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
   Experience in computer programs Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook
   
   REQUIRED BEHAVIORAL SKILLS :
   Integrity: A personal presence which is characterized by a sense of honesty and the willingness to do the right thing. The ability to role model, inspire and motivate others to promote the philosophy, mission, vision, goals and values of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System. Compassion: A personal presence which is characterized by a sense of caring that is reflected in a high level of empathy and customer service with all that we come in contact. Ability to manage conflict, consider other points of view, and offer alternative solutions without jeopardizing overall project direction and the ability to manage customer expectations. Accountability: Demonstrated track record of ownership of situations, projects and issues. Able to work autonomously and have a high degree of flexibility to adapt to changing projects, priorities and work volumes. Respect: Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a diverse population. Treat all internal and external customers with a positive, proactive service orientation. Excellence: Strong communication and presentation skills with a proven ability to influence and lead teams to conclusion/decision making. Proven ability to think strategically but also must be able to lead day-to-day tactical processes. Demonstrated ability to manage and provide coaching and leadership on complex projects. Must be able to lead and/or facilitate process improvement.
   
   MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
   High School Diploma/GED Good driving record
   
   PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
   N/A
   
   REQUIRED LICENSE/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION:
   Current valid Kansas driver's license Proof of current motor vehicle insurance coverage
   
   PREFERRED LICENSE/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION
   N/A
   
   We offer competitive pay, a generous benefit package and a reason to be proud of what you do, every day.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right general office clerk for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with general office clerks they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit general office clerks who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your general office clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit general office clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit general office clerks, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new general office clerk

   Once you've selected the best general office clerk candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new general office clerk. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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