# Will file clerks be replaced by AI? Updated October 2026 File clerks score 59 of 100 for AI exposure. AI can already do 40% of their task time. Another 38% gets faster with AI, and 22% still needs a person. - **40%** AI can do it - **38%** AI helps - **22%** Needs a person High exposure Higher than 89% of the 923 occupations we scored. ## Task by task We graded 19 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 7 of them today, speeds up 7 and leaves 5 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | Input data, such as file numbers, new or updated information, or document information codes into computer systems to support document and information retrieval. Keying file numbers and codes is routine data entry. | 85% AI can do it | | Keep records of materials filed or removed, using logbooks or computers and generate computerized reports. Logs and reports are straightforward software and reporting tasks. | 75% AI can do it | | Scan or read incoming materials to determine how and where they should be classified or filed. Reading incoming documents to route them is strong AI work. | 70% AI can do it | | Sort or classify information according to guidelines, such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order. Classifying content by guidelines suits AI; physical sorting less so. | 65% AI can do it | | Answer questions about records or files. Answering questions from indexed records is well suited to AI. | 65% AI can do it | [See what AI can take on across an operations team](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/operations/) ## How file clerks compare All occupations (923) Office and administrative support (51) **File clerks score 59**, marked by the dark line. Each dot is a score, darker where more occupations share it. The short marks show the averages, 37 for all occupations and 57 for office and administrative support. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $43,600 a year, May 2025 People employed 73,440 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs \-15.8% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Run record logs and retrieval reports in Microsoft Excel - Maintain indexes and records databases in Microsoft Access - Manage shared document libraries in Microsoft SharePoint - Check scanned records and PDF files in Adobe Acrobat - Perform periodic file inspections for placement and legibility ## Safer roles nearby 5 related occupations with lower scores. - [Administrative services managers38 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/administrative-services-managers/) - [Mail sorters20 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/mail-sorters/) - [Title examiners55 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/title-examiners/) - [Management consultants55 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/management-consultants/) - [Archivists53 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/archivists/) ## Questions about file clerks and AI Will AI replace file clerks? Partly. About 5 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly keying file numbers and codes into systems and keeping logs of materials filed or removed. Pulling records, loading them into cabinets, and checking that files are in the right place still rest with people. Which file clerk tasks is AI taking over? Data entry is the most exposed task, with an exposure score of 85, because keying file numbers and codes follows fixed rules. Record logs and reports score 75, and reading incoming documents to decide where they go scores 70. Which file clerk tasks stay human? Operating rotating mechanized shelving scores 5, the lowest exposure, because it is hands on machine work. Gathering materials from departments and placing items into cabinets and drawers each score 15, since both need a person moving through the office with paper in hand. How can file clerks stay valuable? Keep the hands on work that software leaves untouched, such as pulling files and running periodic inspections for placement and legibility. Then move into the systems side by building retrieval reports in Excel and Access and checking the codes AI assigns in SharePoint. ## Related jobs - [Data entry clerks66 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/data-entry-clerks/) - [Medical coders69 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/medical-coders/) - [Office clerks60 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/office-clerks/) - [Typists66 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/typists/) ## Next steps for file clerks - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your actual tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV and see which of your tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Cement masons score lowest, at 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Radiologists earn a median $420,860 and score 46.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Cement masons need little prior training and score 8.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**For natural sciences managers, AI speeds up 96% of task time.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we publish, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 occupation groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.