File Clerks pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,130 or more. The middle half of file clerks in Washington earn between $37,280 and $49,070.
- $34K10th
- $37K25th
- $43KMedian
- $49K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,260 | $3,772 | $21.76 |
| Median | $43,270 | $3,606 | $20.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,280 | $3,107 | $17.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,070 | $4,089 | $23.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
File Clerks pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
File clerks in Washington earn about the same as the U.S. average ($45,590). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $43,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $45,260 | $43,270 | $33,870 | $59,130 | 1,700 |
| United States | $45,590 | $43,600 | $31,200 | $63,490 | 73,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
File Clerks salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $45,260, a single filer in Washington takes home about $36,997 a year, or $3,083 a month and $1,423 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $37,302 | $3,109 |
| Working in DC | $36,997 | $3,083 |
| Working in VA | $36,758 | $3,063 |
| Working in MD | $36,608 | $3,051 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for file clerks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $45,260 buys what about $41,567 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 12.9 years of this average salary before tax.
File Clerks salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$45,970
- Baltimore, MD$45,190
- Chambersburg, PA$40,250
- Harrisonburg, VA$32,730
- Charlottesville, VA$41,850
- York, PA$45,350
Highest-paying cities for file clerks
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($65,520).
- San Jose, CA$65,520
- San Francisco, CA$60,000
- Napa, CA$58,830
- Salinas, CA$56,620
- Chicago, IL$55,780
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File Clerks salary in Washington: questions
How much do file clerks make an hour in Washington?
$21.76 an hour on average, and $20.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level file clerks salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the file clerks take-home pay in Washington?
About $36,997 a year ($3,083 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,260.
Do file clerks earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($45,590).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-4071; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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