Office Occupations and Clerical Services: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed to equip learners with foundational skills for success in modern office environments, this program focuses on developing proficiency in essential clerical tasks and administrative operations. Graduates gain the practical expertise needed to support organizational efficiency across a wide range of industries.
- Keyboarding and Typing Efficiency: Mastery of accurate and rapid data entry techniques using standard keyboard layouts, with emphasis on speed, accuracy, and ergonomic practices.
- Document Management and Filing Systems: Training in organizing, storing, retrieving, and maintaining physical and digital records using standardized filing protocols and document control methods.
- Business Communication and Correspondence: Development of professional written and verbal communication skills for drafting memos, emails, letters, and other formal workplace documentation.
- Office Equipment and Technology Operations: Hands-on experience with multifunctional office machines, including printers, scanners, copiers, and digital communication tools used in day-to-day administrative workflows.
- Administrative Support Procedures: Instruction in coordinating schedules, managing appointments, handling incoming calls, and supporting team operations within a structured office environment.
Office Occupations and Clerical Services Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Office Occupations and Clerical Services Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Office Occupations and Clerical Services degrees, including Cargo and Freight Agents, Procurement Clerks and Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 3,102,010 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo and Freight Agents 43-5011 | $49,900 | $37,240 - $76,350 | 97,800 | $23.99 |
| Procurement Clerks 43-3061 | $48,510 | $36,810 - $65,890 | 59,900 | $23.32 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks 43-9041 | $48,450 | $36,900 - $73,100 | 229,070 | $23.29 |
| Word Processors and Typists 43-9022 | $47,850 | $35,300 - $64,370 | 36,030 | $23.01 |
| Correspondence Clerks 43-4021 | $46,740 | $33,530 - $62,200 | 6,260 | $22.47 |
| Order Clerks 43-4151 | $44,660 | $33,530 - $61,680 | 83,420 | $21.47 |
| Office Clerks, General 43-9061 | $43,630 | $29,120 - $63,840 | 2,510,550 | $20.97 |
| File Clerks 43-4071 | $41,270 | $29,620 - $61,080 | 78,980 | $19.84 |
Office Occupations and Clerical Services Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $38,128 in West Virginia to $54,548 in District of Columbia—a 43% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,102,010 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Office Occupations and Clerical Services by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Office Occupations and Clerical Services programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Office Occupations and Clerical Services is found at Bryan University (129 graduates), Diversified Vocational College (DVC) (97 graduates), Panola College (76 graduates), Palo Alto College (PAC) (50 graduates), and UEI College, Chula Vista (49 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,524 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
129 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | bryanuniversity.edu |
| Diversified Vocational College (DVC) |
Other Award
|
97 | Los Angeles, California | Private | dvcla.edu |
| Panola College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
76 | Carthage, Texas | Public | panola.edu |
| Palo Alto College (PAC) |
Other Award
|
50 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
49 | Chula Vista, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Davis Technical College (DATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
45 | Kaysville, Utah | Public | davistech.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
44 | Visalia, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
44 | Gardena, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
40 | Ontario, California | Private | uei.edu |
| United Education Institute (UEI College) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
39 | Morrow, Georgia | Private | uei.edu |
| Career Technical Institute (CTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
39 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | careertechnical.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
38 | Austin, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| CDE Career Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
38 | Tannersville, Pennsylvania | Private | cde.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
32 | Bakersfield, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
30 | Garden Grove, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Eastern Arizona College (EAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
29 | Thatcher, Arizona | Public | eac.edu |
| Community College of Denver (CCD) |
Other Award
|
27 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ccd.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
26 | Pharr, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
26 | Riverside, California | Private | uei.edu |
| United Education Institute |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Stone Mountain, Georgia | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
21 | Oceanside, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
21 | Stockton, California | Private | uei.edu |
| UEI College (UEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
19 | Huntington Park, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
17 | Harlingen, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
16 | West Covina, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute |
Other Award
|
16 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Bob Jones University (BJU) |
Associate's
|
15 | Greenville, South Carolina | Private | bju.edu |
| Spokane Community College (SCC) |
Other Award
|
14 | Spokane, Washington | Public | scc.spokane.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
14 | Reseda, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
14 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Kaskaskia College (KC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
13 | Centralia, Illinois | Public | kaskaskia.edu |
| Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES |
Other Award
|
13 | Liverpool, New York | Public | ocmboces.org |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
13 | Temecula, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Pierce College District |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
12 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | pierce.ctc.edu |
| Peninsula College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
12 | Port Angeles, Washington | Public | pencol.edu |
| Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
11 | Pendleton, South Carolina | Public | tctc.edu |
| Midland College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
10 | Midland, Texas | Public | midland.edu |
| Gateway Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
10 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | gtc.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute |
Other Award
|
10 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
9 | Bakersfield, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Roswell, New Mexico | Public | roswell.enmu.edu |
| Texarkana College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
9 | Texarkana, Texas | Public | texarkanacollege.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
9 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
9 | Fresno, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
9 | Ontario, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| MTI College (MTI) |
Other Award
|
8 | Sacramento, California | Private | campus.edu |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
Other Award
|
8 | Kirkland, Washington | Public | lwtech.edu |
| Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin | Public | morainepark.edu |
| Colegio Educativo Tecnologico Industrial Inc (CETI College) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
8 | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | Private | ceticollege.com |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
8 | Hesperia, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Drury University |
Other Award
|
8 | Springfield, Missouri | Private | drury.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| Century College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | White Bear Lake, Minnesota | Public | century.edu |
| Great Falls College Montana State University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Great Falls, Montana | Public | gfcmsu.edu |
| Bellevue College (BC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Bellevue, Washington | Public | bellevuecollege.edu |
| Everett Community College (EvCC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Everett, Washington | Public | everettcc.edu |
| Madison Area Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | madisoncollege.edu |
| Northwood Technical College (Northwood Tech) |
Other Award
|
7 | Rice Lake, Wisconsin | Public | northwoodtech.edu |
| Klamath Community College (KCC) |
Other Award
|
7 | Klamath Falls, Oregon | Public | klamathcc.edu |
| Asher College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Sacramento, California | Private | asher.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Delano, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
7 | Porterville, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Aims Community College |
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
6 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | aims.edu |
| Chemeketa Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
6 | Salem, Oregon | Public | chemeketa.edu |
| Bellingham Technical College (BTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
6 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | btc.edu |
| Northcentral Technical College (NTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
6 | Wausau, Wisconsin | Public | ntc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
6 | Salida, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
6 | Brownsville, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Kansas City, Kansas | Public | kckcc.edu |
| Southwest Texas Junior College (SWTJC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Uvalde, Texas | Public | swtjc.edu |
| Edmonds College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Lynnwood, Washington | Public | edmonds.edu |
| Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Appleton, Wisconsin | Public | fvtc.edu |
| Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Cleveland, Wisconsin | Public | gotoltc.edu |
| Nicolet Area Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Public | nicoletcollege.edu |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | cvtc.edu |
| Nevada Career Institute (NCI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | nevadacareerinstitute.com |
| Tillamook Bay Community College (TBCC) |
Other Award
|
5 | Tillamook, Oregon | Public | tillamookbaycc.edu |
| Arkansas State University (ASUN) |
Other Award
|
5 | Newport, Arkansas | Public | asun.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
5 | Lancaster, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
4 | Ankeny, Iowa | Public | dmacc.edu |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Public | nwtc.edu |
| ABC Adult School |
Other Award
|
4 | Cerritos, California | Public | abcadultschool.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
4 | Waco, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| North Idaho College (NIC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
3 | Coeur d'Alene, Idaho | Public | nic.edu |
| Illinois Central College (ICC) |
Other Award
|
3 | East Peoria, Illinois | Public | icc.edu |
| Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Public | stcc.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Other Award
|
3 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Associate's
|
3 | Alamogordo, New Mexico | Public | alamogordo.nmsu.edu |
| Dickinson State University (DSU) |
Other Award
|
3 | Dickinson, North Dakota | Public | dickinsonstate.edu |
| Northwest State Community College (NSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Archbold, Ohio | Public | northweststate.edu |
| Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Warwick, Rhode Island | Public | ccri.edu |
| Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | Walla Walla, Washington | Public | wwcc.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
3 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| Kishwaukee College (Kish) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Malta, Illinois | Public | kish.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Residency
|
2 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Public | qcc.edu |
| Central Lakes College (CLC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Brainerd, Minnesota | Public | clcmn.edu |
| Oglala Lakota College (OLC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Kyle, South Dakota | Public | olc.edu |
| Green River College (GRC) |
Residency
|
2 | Auburn, Washington | Public | greenriver.edu |
| Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Spokane, Washington | Public | sfcc.spokane.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Office Occupations and Clerical Services programs
How much can I earn with a Office Occupations and Clerical Services degree?
Salaries for Office Occupations and Clerical Services graduates vary by role and location. Cargo and Freight Agents earn a median of $49,900 annually, while Procurement Clerks earn around $48,510. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $54,548 compared to $38,128 in West Virginia. Approximately 3,102,010 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Office Occupations and Clerical Services programs?
Currently 116 accredited institutions offer Office Occupations and Clerical Services degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Bryan University (129 graduates), Diversified Vocational College (DVC) (97 graduates), and Panola College (76 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Office Occupations and Clerical Services growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 3,304 in 2010 to a peak of 1,854 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,543 in 2023-24. This represents a 53% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Office Occupations and Clerical Services degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Cargo and Freight Agents, Procurement Clerks, and Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks. Related occupations employ approximately 3,102,010 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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