How to hire an Office Support Clerk

Office support clerk hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring office support clerks in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an office support clerk is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per office support clerk on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 1,139,386 office support clerks in the US and 185,683 job openings.
  • Denver, CO, has the highest demand for office support clerks, with 5 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of office support clerks.

How to hire an office support clerk, step by step

To hire an office support clerk, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire an office support clerk:

Here's a step-by-step office support clerk hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an office support clerk job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new office support clerk
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an Office Support Clerk do?

Office support clerks are professionals who provide clerical and administrative duties that support the daily activities of an organization's office setting. These clerks are required to answer incoming calls from clients while maintaining all office and cleaning supplies for the organization. They must communicate with clients and direct them to the appropriate department to ensure quality customer service. Office support clerks must also utilize the automated word processing equipment so that they can produce reports, statistical information, and other departmental information.

Learn more about the specifics of what an office support clerk does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an office support clerk, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine Employee vs Contractor Status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect office support clerk also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    The following list breaks down different types of office support clerks and their corresponding salaries.

    Type Of Office Support ClerkDescriptionHourly Rate
    ascdesc
    Office Support ClerkGeneral office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records. $12-18
    ClerkClerks are responsible for many of the general administrative tasks in the office. They are in charge of manning office telephone lines, managing incoming and outgoing mails, filing paperwork and other needed records, scheduling and documenting meetings, typing out documents when needed, disseminating memos and other official announcements, and keeping an inventory of office equipment and supplies... Show More$11-18
    Office TechnicianAn Office Technician handles installation and repair tasks by using power tools and manual equipment safely and effectively. Besides installing, maintaining, and repairing central office equipment, an office technician also installs, tests, and labels cable lines... Show More$12-23
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Data Entry
    • Word Processing
    • Office Equipment
    • Front Desk
    • Database Systems
    • Payroll
    • Clerical Support
    • PowerPoint
    • Scheduling Appointments
    • Direct Calls
    • HR
    • Greeting Visitors
    • Office Support
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
    • Audit all deductions for each employee on payroll for various deductions such as; health care, dental and uniforms.
    • Initiate contact among current and potential clients by assisting in application process, new hire paperwork, and client payroll.
    • Compile PowerPoint presentations for various department heads.
    • Assist in creating Microsoft PowerPoint presentations and other documents for staff development and productivity.
    • Handle administrative work relate to operational process of the office and patients clinical information.
    More Office Support Clerk duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the office support clerk job description is a good way to get more applicants. An office support clerk salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for an office support clerk in New Mexico may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level office support clerk. Additionally, an office support clerk with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average office support clerk salary

    $15.40hourly

    $32,040 yearly

    Entry-level office support clerk salary
    $25,000 yearly salary
    Updated March 26, 2025

    Average office support clerk salary by state

    Rank
    ascdesc
    State
    ascdesc
    Avg. Salary
    ascdesc
    Hourly Rate
    ascdesc
    1Oregon$38,110$18
    2Colorado$35,988$17
    3California$35,939$17
    4Minnesota$35,388$17
    5New Jersey$33,838$16
    6New York$33,196$16
    7Massachusetts$32,733$16
    8Michigan$32,225$15
    9Ohio$32,063$15
    10Utah$32,021$15
    11Connecticut$30,968$15
    12Pennsylvania$30,711$15
    13Texas$29,713$14
    14North Carolina$29,518$14
    15Illinois$29,159$14
    16Georgia$29,146$14
    17Indiana$28,712$14
    18Missouri$27,679$13
    19Tennessee$25,888$12
    20Florida$25,449$12

    Average office support clerk salary by company

    Rank
    ascdesc
    Company
    ascdesc
    Average Salary
    ascdesc
    Hourly Rate
    ascdesc
    Job Openings
    ascdesc
    1Sierra Pacific Industries$39,502$18.992
    2AXA$36,209$17.411
    3Ricoh$35,890$17.2564
    4AllianceBernstein$35,636$17.13
    5Cintas$34,834$16.7526
    6Campbell Union High School District$34,467$16.573
    7Denver Public Schools$34,220$16.457
    8Washington County$33,950$16.32
    9JPMorgan Chase & Co.$33,296$16.0166
    10Good Shepherd Communities$33,201$15.96
    11Monroe County Community School$32,600$15.673
    12TopBuild$31,723$15.254
    13Nova Medical Centers$31,491$15.141
    14Utah$31,363$15.08
    15Kelly Services$31,286$15.0493
    16Hanger$31,259$15.0347
    17All Medical Personnel$31,152$14.9814
    18ManpowerGroup$31,068$14.9482
    19Aerotek$30,865$14.84118
    20O'Reilly Auto Parts$30,835$14.824
  4. Writing an Office Support Clerk Job Description

    An office support clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an office support clerk job description:

    Office Support Clerk job description example

    Responsible to support daily Business Operations for Cybersecurity Product Portfolio.Team consists of 4 team members.1 Program Manager, 2 Functional Support Specialists, and one Customer Renewal Support Specialist.

    Supporting Shipping and Receiving of all customer deliverables as well internal hardware and software needs.

    Receive and process customer orders into Salesforce.com and track orders from receipt to delivery and invoicing.

    Process prospective customer bailment agreements with contracts department and help arrange equipment to be delivered to customer and returned to BAE upon bailment completion.
    Support Maintenance Support Renewals Team in managing overall schedule. Support team in arranging, packing, and shipping marketing materials for trade shows and customer demonstrations. Burn media (CDs/DVDs) of software to provide to customers. Support Sales & Sales/Engineering teams on various prospective & current customer deliverables. Support team in overall office management.
    Required Education, Experience, & Skills
    Bachelor's Degree Preferred

    Pursuant to a specific US Government contract, selected individual must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident.

    Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
    Ability to obtain Secret level security clearance.

    About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
    BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere - from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact - for our customers and the communities we serve.

    Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
    At BAE Systems, we work hard every day to nurture an inclusive culture where employees are valued and feel like they belong. We are conscious of the need for all employees to see themselves reflected at every level of the company and know that in order to unlock the full potential of our workforce, everyone must feel confident being their best, most sincere self and be equipped to thrive. We provide impactful professional development experiences to our employees and invest in social impact partnerships to uplift communities and drive purposeful change. Here you will find significant opportunities to do meaningful work in an environment intentionally designed to be one where you will learn, grow and belong.
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find office support clerks for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your office support clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit office support clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with office support clerk candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new office support clerk

    Once you have selected a candidate for the office support clerk position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new office support clerk. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an office support clerk?

Before you start to hire office support clerks, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire office support clerks pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

The median annual salary for office support clerks is $32,040 in the US. However, the cost of office support clerk hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring an office support clerk for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $12 and $18 an hour.

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