File Clerk salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
File Clerks in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $43,270 a year ($20.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,130 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $43,600. Pay here is 8% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $39,900. There are 0.54 file clerks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for file clerks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,870 | $16.28 |
| 25th percentile | $37,280 | $17.92 |
| Median | $43,270 | $20.80 |
| 75th percentile | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,130 | $28.43 |
| Average (mean) | $45,260 | $21.76 |
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 | $3,605.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,802.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,664.23 |
| Weekly | $832.12 |
| Hourly | $20.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $43,270 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $51,990 | 40 |
| Richmond, VA | $47,020 | 250 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $45,980 | 1,440 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $43,490 | 470 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $41,930 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $41,050 | 330 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $38,690 | 40 |
| Charleston, WV | $38,540 | 70 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $38,250 | 40 |
| Roanoke, VA | $37,950 | 50 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $35,400 | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $35,130 | 40 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $25,810 | 70 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representative | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $41,240 | $19.83 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Information and Record Clerks, All Other | $61,760 | $29.69 |
| Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | $49,700 | $23.90 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $66,130 | $31.79 |
| Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks | $45,210 | $21.73 |
| Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | $53,210 | $25.58 |
| Loan Interviewers and Clerks | $59,070 | $28.40 |
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $59,120 | $28.43 |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Order Clerk | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Brokerage Clerk | $66,860 | $32.15 |
| New Accounts Clerk | $58,410 | $28.08 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for file clerks in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $43,270 a year, or $20.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid file clerks make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of file clerks in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $59,130 a year. The top 25% earn $49,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for file clerks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,870 a year, and a quarter of file clerks earn $37,280 or less.
How many file clerks work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 1,700 file clerks are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.