How to hire a chief administrative officer

How to hire a chief administrative officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step chief administrative officer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a chief administrative officer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new chief administrative officer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a chief administrative officer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The chief administrative officer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect chief administrative officer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents chief administrative officer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Chief Administrative Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Chief Administrative Officer	Administrative services managers plan, direct, and coordinate supportive services of an organization. Their specific responsibilities vary by the type of organization and may include keeping records, distributing mail, and planning and maintaining facilities.	$52-133
   Deputy Director	Deputy directors supervise a team of workers and oversee the daily functions of their organizations. They coordinate with the company's executive director in preparing long-term strategies to achieve organizational goals... Show more	$27-83
   Operations Director	Operations directors oversee all company operations. They have the power to set the direction, change the course of the organization, and reform strategies to ensure efficiency in how the company operates... Show more	$31-78

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Human Resources
   • Oversight
   • Financial Management
   • Payroll
   • Risk Management
   • Strategic Direction
   • Strategic Plan
   • Real Estate
   • Executive Committee
   • Administrative Operations
   • Executive Leadership
   • CAO
   • Administrative Functions
   • Financial Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and maintain database (FMP), sales sheets and track windows.
   • Manage and supervise the accounting and bookkeeping functions including budgeting, payroll and inventory.
   • Coordinate outside CPA review and year-end closing.
   • Develop systematic procedures for the effective use of the ERP system.
   • Review and report survey feedback findings to state Medicaid and other agencies, utilizing information to make call center improvements.
   • Implement major ERP software project enhancements design to further streamline operations.

   More chief administrative officer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the chief administrative officer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A chief administrative officer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a chief administrative officer in Oklahoma may be lower than in Vermont, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level chief administrative officer. Additionally, a chief administrative officer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average chief administrative officer salary

   $174,185yearly

   $83.74 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level chief administrative officer salary

   $109,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 9, 2026

   Average chief administrative officer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$215,202	$103
   2	Ohio	$212,800	$102
   3	New Jersey	$211,598	$102
   4	New York	$210,901	$101
   5	District of Columbia	$205,720	$99
   6	Minnesota	$201,546	$97
   7	Washington	$201,262	$97
   8	Texas	$195,453	$94
   9	Pennsylvania	$193,096	$93
   10	Arkansas	$191,310	$92
   11	Virginia	$188,940	$91
   12	Arizona	$184,002	$88
   13	Massachusetts	$163,404	$79
   14	California	$162,554	$78
   15	Georgia	$156,523	$75
   16	Indiana	$154,883	$74
   17	North Carolina	$151,836	$73
   18	New Mexico	$151,099	$73
   19	Louisiana	$146,877	$71
   20	Tennessee	$141,014	$68

   Average chief administrative officer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bon Secours Community Hospital	$279,343	$134.30	19
   2	Northern Arizona Healthcare Corporation	$264,152	$127.00	2
   3	Baptist Health	$252,752	$121.52	12
   4	Citi	$207,600	$99.81	321
   5	Asian Health Services	$207,273	$99.65
   6	Nicklaus Children's Health System	$199,815	$96.06
   7	Asia	$199,815	$96.06
   8	Workforce Solutions	$199,815	$96.06	16
   9	Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin	$199,815	$96.06
   10	The Independent Traveler	$199,810	$96.06	13
   11	Culture Biosciences	$199,339	$95.84
   12	Gainor Staffing	$191,899	$92.26
   13	JLL	$189,838	$91.27	108
   14	Saba Capital Management	$188,997	$90.86	1
   15	Pearson	$185,142	$89.01
   16	Commonwealth	$181,583	$87.30	33
   17	McKinsey & Company Inc	$178,495	$85.81
   18	Clinical Management Consultants	$176,184	$84.70
   19	King County Housing Authority	$173,533	$83.43	1
   20	Atlassian	$172,458	$82.91

4. Writing a chief administrative officer job description

   A chief administrative officer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a chief administrative officer job description:

   Chief administrative officer job description example

   Job Summary: Chief People Officer at The START Center for Cancer Care
   
   This person would be a dynamic and innovative leader with a proven record of excellence and achievement in providing strategic vision and effective people solutions. The Chief People Officer (CPO) would build and scale our organization through mindful and creative people strategies that are designed in collaboration with the leadership, to attract, retain and engage for long term, sustainable growth, and success. The CPO is responsible for developing the strategic human resource initiatives that support the companys most important asset: its employees.
   
   The Chief People Officer (CPO) is responsible for developing and executing human resource strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization, specifically in the areas of succession planning, talent management and retention, training and development, and compensation and benefits.
   
   Supervisory Responsibilities:
   
   This position is responsible for supervising a Human Resources Assistant.
   Duties/Responsibilities:
   Function as an Executive Recruiter for Physicians and Key positions on a global basis.
   Develop comprehensive strategic recruiting and retention plans to meet the human capital needs of the business.
   Develop and implement comprehensive compensation plans that are competitive with the market and cost-effective for the Company.
   Research and present innovative, cost-effective ideas for employee benefits to attract and retain the best and most talented employees.
   Work with the company's executive management team to establish a sound plan of management succession, leadership and career development that corresponds with the strategy and objectives of the company.
   Function as a strategic business advisor to the executive/senior management team regarding key organizational and management issues.
   Develop HR plans and strategies to support the achievement of the overall business operations and objectives.
   Through strong Employee Relationship Management - build, Mutual Resilience & Respect, Strong Employee Morale, Value-Rich Onboarding Practices, Strong Engagement, Open Communications
   Be the Proponent of Cultural Transformation to include shared values & goals, an Inclusive Workforce, and a Positive & Energized Workplace
   Success Factors for this position would be High Employee Satisfaction Scores, Reduced Turnover, Improved Employee Performance, Reduced time to fill and An Expanded Talent Pool for hiring.
   
   Required Skills/Abilities:
   Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
   Exceptional interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
   Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
   Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
   Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
   Thorough knowledge of employment-related laws and regulations.
   Knowledge of and experience with varied human resource information systems.
   Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
   
   Education and Experience:
   
   A BS/BA degree from an accredited college/university; MBA or MA/MS in human resources or related field preferred.
   A minimum of 15 years of HR experience, with at least five years of executive HR experience. At least five years of international HR experience preferred.
   SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) or SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification preferred.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right chief administrative officer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your chief administrative officer job on Zippia to find and recruit chief administrative officer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit chief administrative officers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new chief administrative officer

   Once you've selected the best chief administrative officer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new chief administrative officer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a chief administrative officer?