File Clerk salary in Illinois
File Clerks in Illinois earn a median of $49,920 a year ($24.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,040 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $43,600. Illinois ranks 3rd of 49 states for file clerks pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.62 file clerks per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for file clerks in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,120 | $15.44 |
| 25th percentile | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| Median | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| 75th percentile | $63,700 | $30.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,040 | $35.11 |
| Average (mean) | $52,410 | $25.20 |
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 | $4,160 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,080 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,920 |
| Weekly | $960 |
| Hourly | $24.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
File Clerk salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,320 | 2,640 |
| Rockford, IL | $49,870 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $43,690 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $41,360 | 40 |
| Peoria, IL | $41,080 | 170 |
| Springfield, IL | $41,030 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $40,850 | 580 |
| Bloomington, IL | $36,090 | 50 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representative | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Court, Municipal, and License Clerks | $46,920 | $22.56 |
| Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| Loan Interviewers and Clerks | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Order Clerk | $47,670 | $22.92 |
| Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan | $43,200 | $20.77 |
| Brokerage Clerk | $63,350 | $30.46 |
| New Accounts Clerk | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $61,840 | $29.73 |
| Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks | $58,880 | $28.31 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for file clerks in Illinois is $49,920 a year, or $24.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid file clerks make in Illinois?
The top 10% of file clerks in Illinois earn at least $73,040 a year. The top 25% earn $63,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for file clerks in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,120 a year, and a quarter of file clerks earn $38,600 or less.
How many file clerks work in Illinois?
About 3,780 file clerks are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.