Will AI replace file clerks?
Probably not entirely, but the job is likely to change a lot. File Clerks score 79 out of 100 (high exposure), #29 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 17 of the job's 19 tasks, 12 of them on its own, while 2 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.
Which file clerks tasks can AI do?
The most exposed tasks include "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".
Which file clerks tasks are hardest for AI?
Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "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".
Are people already using AI for this work?
Yes. In April–May 2026, 7 of the 19 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.
How many people work as file clerks, and what do they earn?
About 73,440 people in the US, with median pay of $43,600 a year (BLS, May 2025).