Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of office administrators that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of office administrators:
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Administrative Staff is the highest-paid type of office administrator with an average salary of $77,101 and an average hourly rate of $37.07.
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The second highest-paying type of office administrator is executive administrator, with an average salary of $52,855.
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The average office administrator salary is $37,423 per year, and the average hourly pay is $17.99.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as an office administrator, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of office administrators are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of office administrators:
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Administrative Staff
Average Salary: $77,101
As the administrative staff, they primarily provide administrative and secretarial support for the department. Typically, they do report-writing, filing and scheduling, and payroll. They plan department weekly meetings, schedule conference calls, and work on solving administrative related concerns and issues. They do a complex task that involves multi-tasking from the preparation of department reports, analyzing data, and finding solutions. It is a requirement to be an experienced, collaborator, and trained cross-functional communicator. Moreover, other duties will include scheduling company-initiated activities, meetings, and events.
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Executive Administrator
Average Salary: $52,855
An executive administrator is responsible for assisting the senior management staff in planning strategies and analyzing business decisions to achieve the company’s goals and objectives. Executive administrators schedule meetings and handle appointments, as well as helping with the implementation of training and programs for the employees to reach their maximum operational potential and increase productivity to meet projects’ demands and ensure the highest customer satisfaction. They must have exceptional time-management and organizational skills, especially on performing administrative and clerical duties as needed, as well as excellent communication skills to respond to clients’ inquiries, concerns, and requests.
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Accounting Administrator
Average Salary: $48,068
An accounting administrator is responsible for reviewing and analyzing account statements, managing deposits, and resolving bank discrepancies and financial disputes. Accounting administrators handle the efficient and accurate cash flow within an organization, including payroll release and filing of petty cash. They maintain an organized record of payments and billing statements for reference and audit purposes to generate reports for the management. An accounting administrator must have extensive knowledge of the accounting principles, as well as excellent communication and analytical skills to perform duties effectively, even under minimal supervision.
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Administrative Coordinator
Average Salary: $40,599
An Administrative Coordinator oversees the line of communication and schedules within a company, ensuring that every necessary information is delivered and conveyed. An administrative coordinator’s responsibilities include responding to inquiries and requests from workforce personnel or client, managing calls and correspondence, maintaining and rotating various forms of documentation, and designing or improving systems that would help the company’s operating procedures. Furthermore, it is also essential for an Administrative Coordinator to evaluate the methods and progress, continuity of workflow, and resolve issues as needed within the company.
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Administrative Professional
Average Salary: $39,486
An administrative professional specializes in performing administrative support and clerical tasks in a company or office, ensuring accuracy and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around managing schedules, arranging appointments and meetings, producing progress reports and presentations, delegating tasks, and attending meetings on behalf of executives or staff. There are also instances when an administrative assistant must answer calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries and concerns, welcome guests, relay messages, and provide staff with any support tasks or documents.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various office administrator that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Office Administrators
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for office administrators.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Office Administrator Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid office administrator job?
The highest-paid office administrator job is an administrative staff. Administrative Staff earn an average salary of $77,101, which is $ 37.07 hourly.
As the administrative staff, they primarily provide administrative and secretarial support for the department. Typically, they do report-writing, filing and scheduling, and payroll. They plan department weekly meetings, schedule conference calls, and work on solving administrative related concerns and issues. They do a complex task that involves multi-tasking from the preparation of department reports, analyzing data, and finding solutions. It is a requirement to be an experienced, collaborator, and trained cross-functional communicator. Moreover, other duties will include scheduling company-initiated activities, meetings, and events.
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What is a good salary for an office administrator?
A good salary for an office administrator is $37,423 or more. The average office administrator salary is $37,423, so those making at least $37,423 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average office administrator salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as an office administrator, the average entry level salary is $26,152, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $37,423 average, as this includes all office administrators of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Office Administrator jobs pay well?
No, office administrator jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some office administrator jobs pay better than others, but the average office administrator salary of $37,423 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many office administrator jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of office administrators earning $53,886 a year on average.
Office Administrators’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as an office administrator. Do your research on the going rate for an office administrator in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do office administrators get paid the most?
Office Administrators get paid the most in Alaska. In Alaska, office administrators earn an average annual salary of $47,682 and an average hourly wage of $22.92.
Following AK, the states with the highest-paid office administrators are Colorado, Washington, and New York, with average annual salaries of $41,672, $41,766, and $42,096 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid office administrator salaries are:
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Washington, DC – $46,045
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Seattle, WA – $42,132
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New York, NY – $42,117
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
