Sorting new material into the right place, whether a physical file cabinet or a digital system, is the core of the job, along with scanning incoming documents to figure out how they should be classified. Clerks also answer questions about what's on file, make copies for authorized requesters, and periodically look for ways to improve or overhaul the filing system itself. Because errors mean lost or misplaced records, accuracy matters more here than speed.
Pros
Low barrier to entry with just a high school diploma required
Predictable, desk-based schedule with standard hours and moderate time pressure
Pay can reach up to $63k for experienced clerks in larger organizations
Cons
Employment is projected to shrink sharply (-15.9%) as digital record systems replace physical filing
Highly repetitive tasks with a strong emphasis on precision and accuracy
Small field with 7,300 positions nationwide, and shrinking further over time
A typical day
The morning queue is a cart of medical charts returned from yesterday's appointments, each one checked complete and refiled in strict terminal-digit order. Requests arrive all day — a records pull for an audit, a subpoena needing certified copies — and the clerk logs every file that leaves the room and chases every one that comes back late. The afternoon is a scanning project, converting a shelf of old records to digital with index fields typed exactly, because a misfiled document is a lost document. Order is the whole job, and the best clerks can put their hand on any of ten thousand files in under a minute.
Tasks at the job
Answer questions about records or files.
Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary.
Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users.
Place materials into storage receptacles, such as file cabinets, boxes, bins, or drawers, according to classification and identification information.
Modify or improve filing systems or implement new filing systems.
Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed.
Workplace & working conditions
Work happens indoors in a climate-controlled setting, and most of the day is spent sitting at a desk.
There's a regular, moderate amount of time pressure. Precision and accuracy are essential to the work.
Education necessary or common
High school diploma; some on-the-job training or apprenticeship
Licenses & certifications
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
Records management certificates (ARMA offers entry material)