File Clerks
File correspondence, cards, invoices, receipts, and other records in alphabetical or numerical order or according to the filing system used. Locate and remove material from file when requested.
AI Impact Summary
File Clerks faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 48/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 95% of all analyzed occupations. Of 19 analyzed tasks, 8 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to File Clerks skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Inspired Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence
by Case Western Reserve University
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
19 tasks analyzed
Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed.
Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval.
Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials.
Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order.
Complete general financial activities, such as processing accounts payable, reviewing invoices, collecting cash payments, or issuing receipts.
Answer questions about records or files.
Keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports.
Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary.
Gather materials to be filed from departments or employees.
Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users.
Track materials removed from files to ensure that borrowed files are returned.
Place materials into storage receptacles, such as file cabinets, boxes, bins, or drawers, according to classification and identification information.
Operate mechanized files that rotate to bring needed records to a particular location.
Eliminate outdated or unnecessary materials, destroying them or transferring them to inactive storage, according to file maintenance guidelines or legal requirements.
Perform periodic inspections of materials or files to ensure correct placement, legibility, or proper condition.
Assign and record or stamp identification numbers or codes to index materials for filing.
Modify or improve filing systems or implement new filing systems.
Design forms related to filing systems.
Retrieve documents stored in microfilm or microfiche and place them in viewers for reading.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed. | 37.5Observed | 64.2% | 8% | |
| Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval. | 38.62Observed | 64.7% | 10% | |
| Perform general office activities, such as typing, answering telephones, operating office machines, processing mail, or securing confidential materials. | 62Estimated | 74.0% | 8% | |
| Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 8% | |
| Complete general financial activities, such as processing accounts payable, reviewing invoices, collecting cash payments, or issuing receipts. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Answer questions about records or files. | 39.62Observed | 30.9% | 5% | |
| Keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 6% | |
| Add new material to file records or create new records as necessary. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 6% | |
| Gather materials to be filed from departments or employees. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 5% | |
| Find, retrieve, and make copies of information from files in response to requests and deliver information to authorized users. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Track materials removed from files to ensure that borrowed files are returned. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 5% | |
| Place materials into storage receptacles, such as file cabinets, boxes, bins, or drawers, according to classification and identification information. | 30Estimated | 45.0% | 8% | |
| Operate mechanized files that rotate to bring needed records to a particular location. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 2% | |
| Eliminate outdated or unnecessary materials, destroying them or transferring them to inactive storage, according to file maintenance guidelines or legal requirements. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 4% | |
| Perform periodic inspections of materials or files to ensure correct placement, legibility, or proper condition. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Assign and record or stamp identification numbers or codes to index materials for filing. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 4% | |
| Modify or improve filing systems or implement new filing systems. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% | |
| Design forms related to filing systems. | 58.33Observed | 50.3% | 2% | |
| Retrieve documents stored in microfilm or microfiche and place them in viewers for reading. | 25Estimated | 43.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 26.9%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$41,270
per year
Mean Wage
$43,700
per year
Employment
79K
workers
Wage Range
$29,620 - $61,080
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsReceptionists and Information Clerks
41%Median salary: $37,230
Higher risk than 82% of other occupations
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
46%Median salary: $74,260
Higher risk than 93% of other occupations
Office Clerks, General
47%Median salary: $43,630
Higher risk than 95% of other occupations
Legal Secretaries
48%Median salary: $54,140
Higher risk than 95% of other occupations
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
48%Higher risk than 96% of other occupations
Billing, Cost, and Rate Clerks
51%Median salary: $47,170
Higher risk than 98% of other occupations
Word Processors and Typists
53%Median salary: $47,850
Higher risk than 99% of other occupations
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
55%Median salary: $54,980
Higher risk than 99% of other occupations
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
56%Median salary: $49,210
Higher risk than 99% of other occupations
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
59%Median salary: $55,290
Higher risk than 99% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. File Clerks professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change