Financial clerks
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Financial clerks in the United States earn a median salary of $50,670 per year — about $24 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 1.2M people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of -5%.
AI & Automation Risk
Financial clerks perform routine, digital-first tasks such as data entry, record updating, and basic financial calculations that are highly susceptible to AI automation. While some roles involve customer interaction, the core functions—processing claims, verifying credit, and managing payroll—are increasingly handled by AI-driven software, leading to a projected decline in employment.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MNBEST VALUE | $58,350 | Below avg (90.8) | $64,247 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $60,680 | Average (98.4) | $61,697 |
| New Haven, CT | $62,890 | Above avg (104.6) | $60,148 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $66,130 | Above avg (110.4) | $59,888 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $55,320 | Below avg (95.1) | $58,167 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $56,620 | Average (97.5) | $58,045 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $50,260 | Below avg (86.7) | $57,995 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $59,470 | Average (102.7) | $57,881 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $50,570 | Below avg (87.6) | $57,707 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $59,020 | Average (102.4) | $57,613 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $59,320 | Above avg (103.2) | $57,476 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $61,390 | Above avg (106.9) | $57,447 |
| Lebanon, PA | $53,500 | Below avg (93.2) | $57,395 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $57,530 | Average (100.4) | $57,275 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $57,290 | Average (100.1) | $57,245 |