File Clerks vs Data Entry Keyers
Side-by-side · O*NET · BLS · AI-exposure research · Anthropic Economic Index
A factual, source-backed comparison of File Clerks and Data Entry Keyers on the dimensions both occupations carry. Every figure is a position within an independent published dataset — not a verdict on which job is better, safer, or more “future-proof.”
At a glance
| Dimension | File Clerks | Data Entry Keyers |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $41,270 | $39,850 |
| Employment | 78,980 | 135,280 |
| Employment outlook (2024–34) · BLS projection | Declining (-15.9%) | Declining (-25.9%) |
| Annual openings · BLS projection | 7,300 | 9,500 |
| Typical education · O*NET | Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. | Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| AI exposure · published exposure studies | High · 80th pct | High · 92nd pct |
| Global GenAI gradient · ILO ISCO-08 · via crosswalk | 69th pct · 37% of tasks | 100th pct · 70% of tasks |
| Observed AI use · Anthropic Economic Index | Automation-leaning (48.9%) | Automation-leaning (64.0%) |
| Mostly remote-capable · Dingel–Neiman | Yes | Yes |
Pay and employment are BLS OEWS estimates; outlook and openings are BLS 2024–2034 projections; AI exposure and observed-use figures come from separate research and reflect exposure and usage, not predictions that either job will disappear. Compare like with like.
Skills
Shared: Administrative, English Language, Information Ordering, Customer and Personal Service, Written Comprehension, Category Flexibility, Near Vision, Reading Comprehension, Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression, Written Expression, Active Listening, Perceptual Speed, Selective Attention, Law and Government, Computers and Electronics, Speaking, Speech Clarity, Mathematics, Writing, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Public Safety and Security, Deductive Reasoning, Speech Recognition, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Problem Sensitivity, Inductive Reasoning, Flexibility of Closure, Active Learning, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Administration and Management, Far Vision.
Specific to File Clerks
- Telecommunications
- Fluency of Ideas
- Originality
- Judgment and Decision Making
Specific to Data Entry Keyers
- Finger Dexterity
- Wrist-Finger Speed
- Time Sharing
- Education and Training
Knowledge, skills & abilities O*NET rates as important for each occupation. “Shared” are common to both; the columns list what is distinctive to each (top by the order O*NET surfaces).
Tools & technology
Shared: Spreadsheet software , Office suite software , Electronic mail software , Word processing software , Document management software , Accounting software , Data base user interface and query software , Presentation software , Medical software .
Specific to File Clerks
Full profiles
This page is a summary. See the complete source-backed profile for File Clerks or Data Entry Keyers — tasks, the full skill graph, tools, work context, preparation, wages by percentile, industries, AI exposure and the AI work map.
More comparisons
Related occupations you can place side by side on the same sourced scale.
- File Clerks vs Medical Records Specialists
- File Clerks vs Office Clerks, General
- File Clerks vs Correspondence Clerks
- File Clerks vs Word Processors and Typists
- File Clerks vs Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- File Clerks vs Administrative Services Managers
- File Clerks vs Billing and Posting Clerks
- File Clerks vs Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Singulariki. "File Clerks vs Data Entry Keyers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/compare/file-clerks-vs-data-entry-keyers
Singulariki. (2026). File Clerks vs Data Entry Keyers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/compare/file-clerks-vs-data-entry-keyers
@misc{singulariki-file-clerks-vs-data-entry-keyers,
title = {File Clerks vs Data Entry Keyers},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/compare/file-clerks-vs-data-entry-keyers}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.