| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Deliver messages and run errands. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents, from notes or dictating machines, using computers or typewriters. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Inventory and order materials, supplies, and services. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Complete work schedules, manage calendars, and arrange appointments. |
Educational Paraprofessional Careers and Jobs
Select, Find and Prepare for Educational Paraprofessional Careers and Jobs - all on one page
For people who want classroom experience and a faster path into schools than a full teaching credential. Use the tools below to see which educational paraprofessional roles fit your background and goals.
This role supports classroom teachers directly and typically requires less formal education than a teaching credential, making it a faster entry point into schools. Use the tools below to explore Educational Paraprofessional-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like Teacher's Aide, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Lead Paraprofessional or Program Coordinator. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as Paraprofessional Certification (state-specific), that can help you move up the career ladder.
Here is a short Helper Video 
This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from Educational Paraprofessional careers/jobs, (2) Find Educational Paraprofessional job listings, (3) Prepare for Educational Paraprofessional careers, and (4) Provide Educational Paraprofessional career-specific resources.
Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of Educational Paraprofessional careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing Educational Paraprofessional Careers - 2025 to 2035 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving Educational Paraprofessional careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to Educational Paraprofessional, so relevant Educational Paraprofessional jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. Educational Paraprofessional Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) Educational Paraprofessional Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify Educational Paraprofessional careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 38 Educational Paraprofessional Jobs.
The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.
** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview. Can also assist with coffee chats.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career/Job
6 Educational Paraprofessional careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2025 to 2035 est.). Educational Paraprofessional-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:
| Occupations | U.S. Job Openings 2025-2035 (% change) | Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs |
7 Educational Paraprofessional careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). Educational Paraprofessional-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::
| Occupations | National Median Salary | Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs |
9 Educational Paraprofessional careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. Educational Paraprofessional-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.
|
Education/Preparation Categories: 5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.) 4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree 3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree 2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always Please Scroll and Select below: |
||
| Occupations | Education/Preparation | Educational Paraprofessional-Related Jobs |
Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 38 specific Educational Paraprofessional job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:
Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below
Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Find Job Listings:
Office Clerks, General.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Office Clerks, General
Description: Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Office Clerks, General":
U.S. Total Employment (2025):
2,600,000U.S. Total Employment (2035 est.):
2,443,700
Employment Change (2025-2035 est.):
-156,200 (-6%) Average Annual Job Openings (2025-2035 est.):
249,000
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Troubleshoot problems involving office equipment, such as computer hardware and software. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Count, weigh, measure, or organize materials. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Train other staff members to perform work activities, such as using computer applications. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Complete and mail bills, contracts, policies, invoices, or checks. |
| Importance: 51 (%) | Description: Collect, count, and disburse money, do basic bookkeeping, and complete banking transactions. |
| Importance: 50 (%) | Description: Process and prepare documents, such as business or government forms and expense reports. |
| Importance: 38 (%) | Description: Prepare meeting agendas, attend meetings, and record and transcribe minutes. |
| Importance: 30 (%) | Description: Monitor and direct the work of lower-level clerks. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information. | |
| Calculate weights, volumes or other characteristics of materials. | |
| Check data for recording errors. | |
| Collect deposits, payments or fees. | |
| Compile data or documentation. | |
| Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities. | |
| Distribute incoming mail. | |
| Execute sales or other financial transactions. | |
| File documents or records. | |
| Maintain inventory records. | |
| Maintain office equipment in proper operating condition. | |
| Monitor inventories of products or materials. | |
| Operate office equipment. | |
| Prepare cash for deposit or disbursement. | |
| Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance. | |
| Prepare employee work schedules. | |
| Proofread documents, records, or other files to ensure accuracy. | |
| Provide information to coworkers. | |
| Record information from meetings or other formal proceedings. | |
| Respond to customer problems or complaints. | |
| Schedule appointments. | |
| Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information. | |
| Send information, materials or documentation. | |
| Sort mail. | |
| Supervise clerical or administrative personnel. | |
| Train personnel. | |
| Transcribe spoken or written information. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 59 (%) | Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Assign work to others. |
| Activity: Collect fares or payments. |
| Activity: Communicate with others about operational plans or activities. |
| Activity: Compile records, documentation, or other data. |
| Activity: Distribute materials, supplies, or resources. |
| Activity: Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data. |
| Activity: Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or compliance. |
| Activity: Execute financial transactions. |
| Activity: Gather information from physical or electronic sources. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Maintain tools or equipment. |
| Activity: Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment. |
| Activity: Monitor resources or inventories. |
| Activity: Operate office equipment. |
| Activity: Perform administrative or clerical activities. |
| Activity: Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits. |
| Activity: Process shipments or mail. |
| Activity: Provide information to guests, clients, or customers. |
| Activity: Reconcile financial data. |
| Activity: Respond to customer problems or inquiries. |
| Activity: Schedule appointments. |
| Activity: Sort materials or products. |
| Activity: Supervise personnel activities. |
| Activity: Train others on operational or work procedures. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
||||||||
| High-Priority Tech Skills | ||||||||
| Accounting software: | ||||||||
| Intuit QuickBooks | ||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | ||||||||
| Microsoft Outlook | ||||||||
| Office suite software: | ||||||||
| Google Workspace software Microsoft Office software | ||||||||
| Presentation software: | ||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | ||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | ||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | ||||||||
| Word processing software: | ||||||||
| Microsoft Word | ||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | ||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | ||||||||
| Microsoft Access Yardi software | ||||||||
| Desktop publishing software: | ||||||||
| Adobe InDesign | ||||||||
| Document management software: | ||||||||
| Adobe Acrobat Microsoft SharePoint | ||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software: | ||||||||
| Oracle PeopleSoft SAP software | ||||||||
| Medical software: | ||||||||
| Henry Schein Dentrix MEDITECH software | ||||||||
| Operating system software: | ||||||||
| Microsoft Windows | ||||||||
| Project management software: | ||||||||
| Microsoft Project | ||||||||
| Web page creation and editing software: | ||||||||
| Word processing software: | ||||||||
| Google Docs | ||||||||
| General Software Tools | ||||||||
| Accounting software: | ||||||||
| Bookkeeping software Sage 50 Accounting | ||||||||
| Billing and invoicing software: | ||||||||
| Billing software | ||||||||
| Calendar and scheduling software: | ||||||||
| Appointment scheduling software | ||||||||
| Cloud-based data access and sharing software: | ||||||||
| Dropbox Google Drive | ||||||||
| Customer relationship management CRM software: | ||||||||
| Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge Microsoft Dynamics Salesforce.com Salesforce CRM | ||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software (scroll table below): | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| Desktop publishing software: | ||||||||
| Microsoft Publisher | ||||||||
| Document management software: | ||||||||
| Filing system software Records management software Transcription system software | ||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | ||||||||
| IBM Notes Microsoft Exchange | ||||||||
| Enterprise application integration software: | ||||||||
| Electronic Data Interchange EDI systems | ||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software: | ||||||||
| Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Oracle PeopleSoft Financials | ||||||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | ||||||||
| SmugMug Flickr | ||||||||
| Human resources software: | ||||||||
| ADP Workforce Now | ||||||||
| Information retrieval or search software: | ||||||||
| LexisNexis | ||||||||
| Instant messaging software: | ||||||||
| GroupMe | ||||||||
| Internet browser software: | ||||||||
| Web browser software | ||||||||
| Medical software: | ||||||||
| Medical condition coding software Medical procedure coding software | ||||||||
| Project management software: | ||||||||
| Mavenlink | ||||||||
| Web page creation and editing software: | ||||||||
| Google Sites Social media sites | ||||||||
| Word processing software: | ||||||||
| 3M Post-it App Evernote |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed |
| Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. |
| Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. |
| These occupations involve following instructions and often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include dishwashers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, counter and rental clerks, dental laboratory technicians, and security guards. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 40.6 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 36.4 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.7 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
| Frequency of Attainment: 6.5 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.5 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Frequency of Attainment: 0.2 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 30.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 23.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 19.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 11.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 3.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 3.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Up to and including 1 month |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Job Listings
| Job Listings and Similar Occupational Titles - scroll and click to identify common requirements, keywords, and skills in current job listings |
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources
This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Office Clerks, General". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Office Clerks, General
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
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