File clerks
SOC Code: 43-4071
File clerks carries a 79% AI exposure score (Very High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $41,270 and -15.9% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 84,300 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
File clerks (SOC 43-4071) carries an AI exposure score of 79%, placing it in the Very High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score above 70% signals that the majority of core duties are already technically automatable — workers in these roles face the steepest near-term displacement pressure.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 84,300 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -15.9% change through 2034 — a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $41,270, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires High school diploma or equivalent, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes File clerks. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials.
- 2. Keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports.
- 3. Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval.
- 4. Gather materials to be filed from departments or employees.
- 5. Complete general financial activities, such as processing accounts payable, reviewing invoices, collecting cash payments, or issuing receipts.
- 6. Track materials removed from files to ensure that borrowed files are returned.
- 7. Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users.
- 8. Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary.
- 9. Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.
- 10. Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Service Orientation
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Time Management
- Active Learning
Knowledge Areas
- Administrative
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Telecommunications
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace File clerks?
File clerks has an AI exposure score of 79%, indicating a very high level of automation risk. Many tasks in this role involve routine data processing and pattern recognition that current AI systems can perform.
What is the job outlook for File clerks?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, File clerks is projected to decline by 15.9% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 84,300 workers.
What skills are needed for File clerks?
Key skills for File clerks include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do File clerks earn?
The median annual wage for File clerks is $41,270, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for File clerks?
The typical entry-level education for File clerks is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ File clerks?
File clerks roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Very High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A majority of tasks in this occupation are susceptible to AI automation.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).