Office clerk salary in California
The median office clerk in California earns $48,460 a year, or $23.30 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 8% above the national median of $45,010, and 10th of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of California’s 311,490 office clerks earn between $40,430 and $60,110. The highest paying metro area in the state is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $58,840.
Liaison does the routine half of an office clerk’s job for 12% of what one costs in California. See how.
Office clerk salary by city in California
Every metro area in California where BLS publishes a median for office clerks, highest first. A metro that crosses a state line appears under each of its states.
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,840 | $28.29 | $47,230 to $73,310 | 13,470 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $55,620 | $26.74 | $45,100 to $64,530 | 3,630 |
| Napa, CA | $52,000 | $25.00 | $45,380 to $63,860 | 1,230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $52,000 | $25.00 | $43,180 to $65,940 | 37,590 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,780 | $24.90 | $43,740 to $63,530 | 3,350 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $49,920 | $24.00 | $40,630 to $59,840 | 28,470 |
| Vallejo, CA | $49,780 | $23.93 | $43,710 to $61,890 | 2,530 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $48,940 | $23.53 | $44,660 to $60,670 | 21,340 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $48,500 | $23.32 | $39,800 to $56,410 | 4,900 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $48,370 | $23.25 | $39,370 to $59,230 | 5,750 |
| Salinas, CA | $48,340 | $23.24 | $39,760 to $57,890 | 2,790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,100 | $23.13 | $39,590 to $59,270 | 112,270 |
| Yuba City, CA | $47,110 | $22.65 | $37,920 to $51,780 | 1,020 |
| Merced, CA | $46,830 | $22.52 | $38,740 to $52,920 | 1,250 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $46,820 | $22.51 | $41,420 to $52,920 | 910 |
| Modesto, CA | $46,570 | $22.39 | $39,110 to $55,660 | 3,280 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,270 | $22.24 | $38,760 to $54,720 | 27,620 |
| Visalia, CA | $46,190 | $22.21 | $39,580 to $51,310 | 2,440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $46,110 | $22.17 | $36,310 to $58,470 | 2,860 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,070 | $22.15 | $37,740 to $55,270 | 8,710 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $45,440 | $21.84 | $38,470 to $50,310 | 5,500 |
| Redding, CA | $45,120 | $21.69 | $37,910 to $53,070 | 1,370 |
| El Centro, CA | $44,500 | $21.40 | $37,810 to $50,020 | 1,100 |
| Chico, CA | $42,840 | $20.60 | $35,870 to $49,840 | 1,700 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $41,040 | $19.73 | $36,500 to $56,450 | 3,360 |
What an office clerk costs an employer in California
Wages are the start. At employers with fewer than 50 workers, benefits add 35% on top (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation), so an office clerk at the California median costs about $65,400 a year. The employer’s view for every state and metro is on what an office clerk costs, and the routine part of the job is what Liaison does inside the tools a business already runs.
The routine half of an office clerk’s job, for 12% of what one costs in California.
- Enters and files what arrives: bills, forms, records, receipts.
- Keeps the records consistent across your tools, one customer and one vendor each.
- Chases the missing piece, the signature, the receipt, the confirmation, without being asked.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $65,400 a year for an office clerk at the California median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI office manager.
Questions
How much does an office clerk make in California?
The median office clerk in California earned $48,460 a year, or $23.30 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $40,430 and $60,110. Nationally the median is $45,010, so California pays 8% more than the country as a whole.
Which cities in California pay office clerks the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($58,840), Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($55,620) and Napa, CA ($52,000).
What does an office clerk cost an employer in California?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so an office clerk at the California median costs about $65,400 a year. The employer’s view is at useliaison.com/back-office-costs/office-clerk.
Office clerk salary in other states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 43-9061. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours a year. Updated 2026-10-02.
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