Clerk job description.
A Clerk performs administrative and clerical support tasks that keep an office, store, or department running smoothly. Duties typically include data entry, filing, answering phones, processing paperwork, and assisting customers or staff with routine requests. The role is entry-level and often serves as a starting point into administrative or specialized clerical careers.
The Clerk job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Clerk Reports to: Office Manager or Department Supervisor
A Clerk performs administrative and clerical support tasks that keep an office, store, or department running smoothly. Duties typically include data entry, filing, answering phones, processing paperwork, and assisting customers or staff with routine requests. The role is entry-level and often serves as a starting point into administrative or specialized clerical careers.
- Enter, update, and verify records in filing systems or databases
- Answer phone calls and respond to routine customer or staff inquiries
- Sort, distribute, and process incoming mail and documents
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Office Manager or Department Supervisor
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Enter, update, and verify records in filing systems or databases
- Answer phone calls and respond to routine customer or staff inquiries
- Sort, distribute, and process incoming mail and documents
- Prepare, copy, and organize paperwork and reports as requested
- Maintain organized physical and digital filing systems
- Assist with scheduling, ordering supplies, and other office tasks
- Process basic transactions such as invoices, receipts, or forms
- Escalate complex requests to the appropriate staff member
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Basic computer literacy including word processing and spreadsheets
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Previous office or customer service experience
- Familiarity with office equipment such as scanners and copiers
- Typing speed and data entry accuracy above average
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Clerk job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Clerk job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Office Manager or Department Supervisor) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What's the difference between a Clerk and an Administrative Assistant?
- A Clerk role generally focuses on routine, repeatable tasks like filing and data entry, while an Administrative Assistant often takes on broader scheduling, correspondence, and support for specific staff members.
- Does a Clerk position require prior experience?
- Most clerk roles are entry-level and provide on-the-job training, though basic computer skills and attention to detail are usually expected from day one.
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A Receptionist is the first point of contact at the workplace — greeting visitors, managing phones, and supporting the front-of-house experience.
This Clerk job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.