Post job

What is a front desk/office manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
ScoreFront Desk/Office ManagerUS Average
Salary
4.4

Avg. Salary $55,886

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
4.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.64%

Asian 5.24%

Black or African American 10.27%

Hispanic or Latino 18.74%

Unknown 4.72%

White 60.40%

Gender

female 85.87%

male 14.13%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Front desk/office manager career paths

Key steps to become a front desk/office manager

  1. Explore front desk/office manager education requirements

    Most common front desk/office manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    39.5 %

    Associate

    25.7 %

    High School Diploma

    21.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific front desk/office manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients20.30%
    Appointment Scheduling12.65%
    Front Desk Operations10.32%
    Customer Service8.70%
    Reservations6.74%
  3. Complete relevant front desk/office manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New front desk/office managers 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 a front desk/office manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real front desk/office manager resumes.
  4. Research front desk/office manager duties and responsibilities

    • Help dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification.
    • Perform all administrative duties; including accounts payable and receivable, employee time sheets, records, and payroll.
    • Process documentation and work closely with payroll department to coordinate benefits.
    • Represent and uphold company's prominent reputation by politely greeting and directing patients upon arrival to the facility.
  5. Prepare your front desk/office manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your front desk/office manager 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 a front desk/office manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable front desk/office manager resume templates

    Build a professional front desk/office manager 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 front desk/office manager resume.
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
    Front Desk/Office Manager Resume
  6. Apply for front desk/office manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a front desk/office manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first front desk/office manager job

Zippi

Are you a front desk/office manager?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average front desk/office manager salary

The average front desk/office manager salary in the United States is $55,886 per year or $27 per hour. Front desk/office manager salaries range between $39,000 and $79,000 per year.

Average front desk/office manager salary
$55,886 Yearly
$26.87 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do front desk/office managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Front desk/office manager reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Being able to motivate administrative personnel to do their jobs well and meet deadlines.

Cons

Having to reprimand personnel when duties are neglected.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

diverse responsibilities, interfacing with all levels of professionals

Cons

nothing comes to mind


Working as a front desk/office manager? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

Browse office and administrative jobs