File Clerk salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
File Clerks in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $60,840 a year ($29.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 540 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,110 for the top 10%. That is 40% higher than the national median of $43,600. Pay here is 24% higher than the California statewide median of $49,040. There are 0.48 file clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $65,520, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for file clerks in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| 25th percentile | $46,830 | $22.51 |
| Median | $60,840 | $29.25 |
| 75th percentile | $86,140 | $41.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,110 | $44.28 |
| Average (mean) | $65,520 | $31.50 |
Half of file clerks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,070 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,535 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,340 |
| Weekly | $1,170 |
| Hourly | $29.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
File Clerk salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $60,530 | 60 |
| Salinas, CA | $59,040 | 80 |
| Vallejo, CA | $56,750 | 60 |
| Napa, CA | $55,980 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,910 | 890 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $53,860 | 30 |
| Modesto, CA | $52,830 | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $50,260 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,180 | 800 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,050 | 150 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $49,040 | 480 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,450 | 3,930 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $48,400 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $47,720 | 880 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $46,680 | 280 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $46,160 | 70 |
| Visalia, CA | $45,660 | 100 |
| Fresno, CA | $44,610 | 220 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $43,620 | 210 |
| Chico, CA | $39,250 | n/a |
| Redding, CA | $39,110 | 40 |
| El Centro, CA | $37,170 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for file clerks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $50,660 |
| Hawaii | $50,630 |
| Illinois | $49,920 |
| Alaska | $49,910 |
| California | $49,040 |
| Massachusetts | $48,310 |
| Vermont | $47,540 |
| Minnesota | $46,640 |
| Iowa | $46,560 |
| Colorado | $46,490 |
See File Clerk pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representative | $60,480 | $29.08 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $47,130 | $22.66 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | $70,840 | $34.06 |
| Information and Record Clerks, All Other | $64,940 | $31.22 |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | $62,780 | $30.18 |
| Loan Interviewers and Clerks | $62,530 | $30.06 |
| Order Clerk | $58,170 | $27.97 |
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $67,590 | $32.50 |
| Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | $83,490 | $40.14 |
| Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| Brokerage Clerk | $90,220 | $43.37 |
| Office Clerks, General | $58,840 | $28.29 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-4071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a file clerk make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for file clerks in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $60,840 a year, or $29.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid file clerks make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of file clerks in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $92,110 a year. The top 25% earn $86,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for file clerks in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,520 a year, and a quarter of file clerks earn $46,830 or less.
How many file clerks work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 540 file clerks are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.