California Median
$49,040
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.58
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+12% vs US median
US median $43,600
State Rank
#5 of 49
9,520 employed here
How much does a File Clerk make in California?
A File Clerk working in California earns a median salary of $49,040 per year, or about $23.58 per hour. That is 12% above the national median of $43,600 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $36,780 while the top 10% make $78,100 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $39,780 and $62,440 a year.
File Clerk salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,780 | $17.68 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $39,780 | $19.13 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $49,040 | $23.58 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $62,440 | $30.02 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,100 | $37.55 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 5th out of 49 states and territories for File Clerk pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
File Clerk salary in other states
Oregon $50,660Hawaii $50,630Illinois $49,920Alaska $49,910Massachusetts $48,310Vermont $47,540Minnesota $46,640Iowa $46,560Colorado $46,490Idaho $45,910Washington $45,830Wisconsin $45,130Maryland $44,920Connecticut $44,810New Jersey $44,400New Hampshire $44,390New York $44,340Nevada $44,150Michigan $43,950Maine $43,910Arizona $43,690North Carolina $43,260Tennessee $43,010Pennsylvania $42,920North Dakota $42,860Kansas $42,130Florida $41,750Utah $41,450Georgia $41,000Ohio $40,650Nebraska $40,640Delaware $39,940Virginia $39,900Indiana $39,740Texas $39,480South Carolina $39,350Kentucky $39,250Oklahoma $39,170Arkansas $38,470Missouri $38,400Montana $38,370Alabama $38,290New Mexico $37,700South Dakota $36,640Rhode Island $36,400Louisiana $32,200West Virginia $31,600Mississippi $31,260
Working as a File Clerk in California
Nationally, about 73,000 people work as File Clerks in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($49,040) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a File Clerk make in California?
The median File Clerk salary in California is $49,040 per year, or about $23.58 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,780 at the entry level to $78,100 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays File Clerks about 12% more than the national median of $43,600. California ranks 5th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for File Clerks?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $49,040 a year. About 9,520 File Clerks are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national File Clerk salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.