Job outlook for business office associates in the United States

Business office associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

The projected business office associate job growth rate is -5% from 2018-2028.
About -130,800 new jobs for business office associates are projected over the next decade.
Business office associate salaries have increased 16% for business office associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 10,751 business office associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 120,670 active business office associate job openings in the US.
The average business office associate salary is $29,629.

Are business office associate jobs in demand?

No, business office associate jobs are not in demand. Business office associate demand is projected to decline -5% from 2018 to 2028.

Business office associate job and salary trends over time

Compare the number of business office associate jobs and the average business office associate salary over time.

Business office associate jobs over time

Business office associate job growth rate over time

Year	# of jobs	% of population
2021	10,751	0.00%
2020	11,626	0.00%
2019	12,327	0.00%
2018	12,397	0.00%
2017	12,375	0.00%

Average business office associate salary over time

Business office associate salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2026	$29,629	$14.24	+3.8%
2025	$28,547	$13.72	+4.0%
2024	$27,448	$13.20	+3.9%
2023	$26,417	$12.70	+3.0%
2022	$25,645	$12.33	+3.4%

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Business office associate jobs by state

The map below shows you the number of business office associate job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where business office associates earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Most common states for business office associates

Rank	State	Population	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl
1	Alaska	739,795	264	36%
2	Montana	1,050,493	321	31%
3	District of Columbia	693,972	200	29%
4	Minnesota	5,576,606	1,502	27%
5	Nebraska	1,920,076	500	26%
6	Pennsylvania	12,805,537	2,916	23%
7	South Dakota	869,666	201	23%
8	Ohio	11,658,609	2,452	21%
9	Wisconsin	5,795,483	1,209	21%
10	Iowa	3,145,711	676	21%
11	Kansas	2,913,123	574	20%
12	Indiana	6,666,818	1,235	19%
13	Missouri	6,113,532	1,148	19%
14	Tennessee	6,715,984	1,180	18%
15	Michigan	9,962,311	1,672	17%
16	Massachusetts	6,859,819	1,134	17%
17	Arkansas	3,004,279	523	17%
18	Nevada	2,998,039	496	17%
19	New Mexico	2,088,070	365	17%
20	Kentucky	4,454,189	729	16%

Most common cities for business office associates

Rank	City	# of jobs	Employment/ 1000ppl	Avg. salary
1	Urbandale	2	5%	$29,777
2	Danvers	1	4%	$44,899
3	Kenner	2	3%	$22,525
4	Doral	1	2%	$25,040
5	Wichita	3	1%	$23,190
6	Tampa	2	1%	$25,607
7	Columbus	1	1%	$26,650
8	Davie	1	1%	$25,087
9	Fairfield	1	1%	$41,389
10	Fort Myers	1	1%	$25,276
11	Frederick	1	1%	$35,269
12	Gaithersburg	1	1%	$34,875
13	Jacksonville	2	0%	$25,991
14	Baton Rouge	1	0%	$22,573
15	Cincinnati	1	0%	$30,995
16	Fremont	1	0%	$41,775

Business Office Associate job outlook: Expert opinions

We spoke to business office associate professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the business office associate job market for recent graduates is heading and how young graduates entering the business office associate industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.

Our panel of business office associate experts

Allison White

Ohio University

Faiza Abbas

Penn State University - Harrisburg

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Allison White

Associate Professor

Ohio University

Website

What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Office Associates?

Allison White: In addition to production software skills, including MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, we often taught database skills using MS Access. Every employer has an employee database and a customer/client database that requires input and sometimes maintenance by office personnel. Keyboarding (65+ wpm), basic bookkeeping/accounting, and filing skills are a must.

Faiza Abbas

Lecturer of Management

Penn State University - Harrisburg

School of Business Administration

Website

What soft skills should all Business Office Associates possess?

Faiza Abbas: In recent years employers have placed a high value on soft skills. Soft skills, also called human skills or behavioral skills, take years to master. The technical know-how of a job can take an employee only so far. To become a star employee, you need skills that might be hard to measure but critical for success. Some of the important in-demand soft skills are:
-Critical thinking
-Collaboration
-Communication
-Perseverance
-Adaptability
-Emotional Intelligence
According to LinkedIn's 2019 Global Talent Trends report, 89 percent of recruiters say when a hire doesn't work out, it usually comes down to a lack of soft skills. An engineer might have the best solution for her client, but if she misses deadlines or doesn't take action on time, upset clientele might cost her the job. The beauty of soft skills is that they're highly transferable. Creativity, responsibility, and communication skills can be applied to any job.
A recent Yale University study found that people with emotionally intelligent supervisors-those who are self-aware and empathetic-were happier, more creative, and more innovative. On the flip side, 70 percent of the employees whose managers were identified as having little emotional intelligence said their main feelings toward work were negative.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Office Associates?

Faiza Abbas: Business Management or Business Administration degree and some experience
-Know the business and its products and services. As a business associate, you need to be an expert in your company's offerings to sell them to prospective clients. Work with your organization to expand your knowledge, skills, and abilities, so you can provide answers to your clients.
-Computer skills and Microsoft Office
-Analytical skills like Data Mining and Data Presentation, Diagnostics, Creativity
-Presentation skills like Graphic Design and Data Visualization
-Marketing skills
-Certifications relevant to your field
-Fluency in digital communications
-Critical thinking skills

What skills will help Business Office Associates earn the most?

Faiza Abbas: In the current coronavirus scenario or post-Covid time, there are some skills that organizations are willing to pay for; many organizations have a pay-for-knowledge compensation system that bases salaries and wages on the repertoire of skills that an employee possesses and not on job classifications. Having these skills will enable you to earn more than others at the same job level.
-An understanding of how organizations operate
-Strong communication skills (oral and written)
-Analytical and critical thinking
-Problem solving
-Decision making
-Logical thinking
-Presentation and report writing skills

Business office associate jobs

Updated November 2, 2021

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