Updated March 14, 2024
3 min read
An office administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of an office. They handle phone calls, emails, and correspondence. They also work to schedule appointments, organize files, and manage budgets.. Office administrators may draft reports and maintain financial records. They need to have excellent communication and organizational skills, be proficient in using computers and software programs, and have a strong attention to detail. The role requires a high level of multitasking and problem-solving abilities.
What experience really stands out on Internship resumes?
Carl Barlett
Lecturer, Wisconsin School of Business
While good GPAs and relevant majors are all well and good, students put too much focus on them in my experience. When I interviewed potential employees, what stood out for me on resumes was always something that made me want to ask them more questions. This might have been anything from in-depth projects or simulations they had participated in, case competitions they had voluntarily taken part in, or even unique hobbies they pursued in their free time. Anything that showed a spark of intellectual curiosity was paramount to me. In my experience, those with genuine interest and the desire to continue learning about what they do will always outlast those that approach their resume or professional skills as a checklist to complete.
How long does it takes to become an office administrator?
It takes about 1 to 2 years to become an office administrator.
Year 1Begin gaining experience in administrative roles or similar positions. This can include entry-level jobs that involve clerical work, customer service, or other tasks related to office administration.
Year 2Continue to build experience, aiming for roles that offer more responsibility. Some office administrators may also complete short-term on-the-job training during this period, typically lasting less than a month to three months.
- Salary$37,423
- Growth Rate-5%
- Jobs Number118,096
- Complexity LevelBasic
- Most Common SkillCustomer Service
- Most Common DegreeBachelor's degree
- Best StateAlaska
Office Administrator pros and cons
Pros
Opportunities for career advancement
Regular hours and good work-life balance
Good employment prospects
Good salary and benefits packages
Developing strong organizational and time-management skills
Cons
Heavy workload and tight deadlines
High levels of stress during busy periods
Repetitive tasks can become tedious
Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation
The risk of burnout due to long hours or excessive workload
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Office Administrator career paths
An office administrator can move into a variety of roles, such as an executive assistant, office manager, or owner. They can also transition into roles like a business manager, operations manager, or branch manager. Additionally, they can pursue careers in accounting, such as a legal assistant, legal secretary, or controller. Some office administrators may choose to become an accountant, accounts payable clerk, or staff accountant. They can also consider roles such as a bookkeeper, property manager, or communications manager.
Key steps to become an office administrator
Explore office administrator education requirements
If you're interested in becoming an office administrator, you must consider how much education you need. Based on real office administrator resumes, 47.7% of office administrators have a bachelor's degree. Regarding higher education levels, 5.1% of office administrators have master's degrees. Even though most office administrators have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Most common office administrator degrees
Bachelor's
47.7
%
Associate
High School Diploma
13.7
%
Start to develop specific office administrator skills
An office administrator must demonstrate strong administrative and management skills. They should be able to handle a wide range of tasks such as providing leadership and direction, maintaining good relationships with customers, managing and providing oversight for office procedures, and performing various accounting activities. They should also have excellent judgment and discretion in handling confidential information.
According to Christi Patton Luks, Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic Affairs at Missouri University of Science & Technology, "The students who can readily relate the theory to their practical experience to develop new solutions are the most valuable." This suggests that office administrators should be skilled at problem-solving and adapting to new challenges.
Skills Percentages Customer Service 17.95% Patients 11.34% Data Entry 8.10% Office Equipment 4.52% Front Desk 3.54% Show more
Complete relevant office administrator training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New office administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an office administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real office administrator resumes.
Gain additional office administrator certifications
More About CertificationsOffice administrator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific office administrator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for office administrators include Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
Research office administrator duties and responsibilities
Office administrators can handle a wide variety of responsibilities, including leading and directing staff, maintaining relationships with customers, providing administrative support, and managing office operations. They can also perform accounting activities like reviewing financial statements, tracking expenditures, and maintaining inventory. In addition, they may be responsible for scheduling appointments, preparing reports, and coordinating events.
- Monitor calls, manage calendars, travel, meeting arrangements, video conference and teleconferencing.
- Formulate various procedures to assure efficient operation of the SharePoint system is managed properly for CFWB and BOS.
- Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
- Pull patients charts for doctors using EMR system as well as pulled chart from medical records room.
Prepare your office administrator resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your office administrator resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an office administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Office Administrator Resume templates
Build a professional
Office Administrator
resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume.
Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Office Administrator resume.Apply for office administrator jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an office administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
Are you an Office Administrator?
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Average office administrator salary
The average Office Administrator salary in the United States is $37,423 per year or $18 per hour. Office administrator salaries range between $28,000 and $48,000 per year.
Average
Office Administrator
Salary
$37,423Yearly
$17.99
hourly
More office administrator salary info
What Am I Worth?
How do office administrators rate their job?
Office Administrator FAQs
Office Administrator vs. Office Manager
How long does it take to become an Office Administrator?
Do you need a degree to be an office administrator?
How much should an office administrator be paid?
Is an office administrator a manager?
What qualifications do I need to be an office administrator?
What qualifications do you need to be an administrator?
Have more questions?
See all answers to common office and administrative questions.Search for office administrator jobs
Office Administrator jobs by state
- Office Administrator jobs in Alaska
- Office Administrator jobs in Alabama
- Office Administrator jobs in Arkansas
- Office Administrator jobs in Arizona
- Office Administrator jobs in California
- Office Administrator jobs in Colorado
- Office Administrator jobs in Connecticut
- Office Administrator jobs in District of Columbia
- Office Administrator jobs in Delaware
- Office Administrator jobs in Florida
- Office Administrator jobs in Georgia
- Office Administrator jobs in Hawaii
- Office Administrator jobs in Iowa
- Office Administrator jobs in Idaho
- Office Administrator jobs in Illinois
- Office Administrator jobs in Indiana
- Office Administrator jobs in Kansas
- Office Administrator jobs in Kentucky
- Office Administrator jobs in Louisiana
- Office Administrator jobs in Massachusetts
- Office Administrator jobs in Maryland
- Office Administrator jobs in Maine
- Office Administrator jobs in Michigan
- Office Administrator jobs in Minnesota
- Office Administrator jobs in Missouri
- Office Administrator jobs in Mississippi
- Office Administrator jobs in Montana
- Office Administrator jobs in North Carolina
- Office Administrator jobs in North Dakota
- Office Administrator jobs in Nebraska
- Office Administrator jobs in New Hampshire
- Office Administrator jobs in New Jersey
- Office Administrator jobs in New Mexico
- Office Administrator jobs in Nevada
- Office Administrator jobs in New York
- Office Administrator jobs in Ohio
- Office Administrator jobs in Oklahoma
- Office Administrator jobs in Oregon
- Office Administrator jobs in Pennsylvania
- Office Administrator jobs in Puerto Rico
- Office Administrator jobs in Rhode Island
- Office Administrator jobs in South Carolina
- Office Administrator jobs in South Dakota
- Office Administrator jobs in Tennessee
- Office Administrator jobs in Texas
- Office Administrator jobs in Utah
- Office Administrator jobs in Virginia
- Office Administrator jobs in Vermont
- Office Administrator jobs in Washington
- Office Administrator jobs in Wisconsin
- Office Administrator jobs in West Virginia
- Office Administrator jobs in Wyoming
Updated March 14, 2024
Zippia Team
Editorial Staff
The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.
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Updated March 14, 2024
