Home • Education Center • Business • Office Administration

Office administration careers focus on coordinating the activities and daily functioning of an office environment. Whether at the entry-level or in a management position, office administration jobs require good communication and interpersonal skills, as well as strong organization skills and technical proficiency. Some titles for office administration careers include:

• Secretary or Administrative Assistant
• Executive Secretary or Administrative Assistant
• Office Administrator
• Administrative Service Manager
• Office and Administrative Supervisor or Manager

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a secretary or administrative assistant was $29,990 in 2008, while office and administrative supervisors and managers averaged $45,790.

What You Need to Know About Office Administration Careers

The right office administration training can give you an advantage in pursuing a career in the field. For entry-level positions, a college degree may not be necessary, but knowledge of word processing programs, as well as strong written and verbal communication skills, are usually a must. For positions like administrative supervisor or manager, employers increasingly prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree, often coupled with previous experience in office administration. Some valuable job skills you may learn in an office administration degree program include:

• Advanced computer software such as desktop publishing programs
• Database management
• Project management
• Customer service and interpersonal relations
• Leadership and team building skills

The BLS reports that secretaries and administrative assistants will be one of the careers with the most job openings in the decade ending in 2018, while higher positions like office and administrative managers may face more job competition. Taking office administration classes or earning an office administration degree can prepare you to take your office administration career to the next level, so don't wait to broaden your horizons--explore office administration education today!