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Mail clerk vs general office clerk

The differences between mail clerks and general office clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a mail clerk has an average salary of $30,383, which is higher than the $30,034 average annual salary of a general office clerk.

The top three skills for a mail clerk include customer service, delivery sequence and place packages. The most important skills for a general office clerk are data entry, customer service, and office equipment.

Mail clerk vs general office clerk overview

Mail ClerkGeneral Office Clerk
Yearly salary$30,383$30,034
Hourly rate$14.61$14.44
Growth rate-6%-5%
Number of jobs80,560160,597
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4547
Years of experience-2

What does a mail clerk do?

A mail clerk is responsible for sorting and processing mails for the business. Mail clerks' duties include maintenance of mailing supplies by regularly monitoring inventory, forwarding incoming mails and safe packages to appropriate departments, labeling outgoing mails with secured packaging, keeping records of acknowledged mails, and returning misdirected mails to the correct recipient. A mail clerk must be detail-oriented, as well as having strong organizational and multi-tasking skills to arrange deliveries, operate mailing machines, and categorize efficiently.

What does a general office clerk do?

A general office clerk is responsible for performing various clerical duties to support business functions and ensure smooth daily operations. General office clerks respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, welcoming guests, and assisting in disseminating information across the organization. They maintain the adequacy of inventories, organize business and financial transaction reports, and perform basic bookkeeping tasks and banking transactions. A general office clerk must be highly organizational and analytical, especially in encoding account statements on the database and processing business reports required by the management.

Mail clerk vs general office clerk salary

Mail clerks and general office clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

Mail ClerkGeneral Office Clerk
Average salary$30,383$30,034
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $41,000Between $23,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonWashington
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkUSF Reddaway
Best paying industryRetailHealth Care

Differences between mail clerk and general office clerk education

There are a few differences between a mail clerk and a general office clerk in terms of educational background:

Mail ClerkGeneral Office Clerk
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Western Carolina University

Mail clerk vs general office clerk demographics

Here are the differences between mail clerks' and general office clerks' demographics:

Mail ClerkGeneral Office Clerk
Average age4547
Gender ratioMale, 50.7% Female, 49.3%Male, 22.2% Female, 77.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 6.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 53.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between mail clerk and general office clerk duties and responsibilities

Mail clerk example responsibilities.

  • Manage files, prepare lobby monitor presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Identify, analyze and sort tax forms, checks and vouchers submit to the IRS by individuals and businesses.
  • Prepare all documents and packages for shipment via FedEx, DHL, & GSO.
  • Process payroll and pay adjustments.
  • Operate and troubleshoot form letter inserter.
  • Place larger packages on porch or doorstep.
  • Show more

General office clerk example 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.

Mail clerk vs general office clerk skills

Common mail clerk skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Delivery Sequence, 17%
  • Place Packages, 10%
  • Mail Room, 5%
  • Postal Regulations, 5%
  • Mail Containers, 5%
Common general office clerk skills
  • Data Entry, 17%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Office Equipment, 12%
  • Front Desk, 11%
  • Word Processing, 9%
  • Telephone Calls, 8%

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