Office administrator vs operations manager

The differences between office administrators and operations managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an office administrator, becoming an operations manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an operations manager has an average salary of $76,894, which is higher than the $37,423 average annual salary of an office administrator.

The top three skills for an office administrator include customer service, patients and data entry. The most important skills for an operations manager are customer service, logistics, and continuous improvement.

Office administrator vs operations manager overview

	Office Administrator	Operations Manager
Yearly salary	$37,423	$76,894
Hourly rate	$17.99	$36.97
Growth rate	-5%	6%
Number of jobs	118,096	343,868
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	47	44
Years of experience	2	6

What does an office administrator do?

Office administrators are employees who ensure that the office is running in tip-top shape. They manage the administrative needs of the office. They answer calls directed to the official company phone, manage the inventory of supplies, take charge or purchase requisitions for needed supplies, and ensure the office equipment and fixtures are taken care of. Office administrators also manage correspondences, official memoranda, and other official company documents. They also keep track of files and records to ensure that these are properly organized. At times, office administrators also take charge of welcoming guests and accompanying them to their respective meetings.

What does an operations manager do?

Operations managers are in charge of running the main business of the organization. They ensure that the business is running smoothly from an operations standpoint. They make sure that the processes in place produce the necessary output by implementing quality control measures. They also manage finances and ensure that there is enough budget to keep the operations of the business running. They also ensure that the production of goods or services is cost-efficient. Operations managers also handle people-related concerns. They are responsible for interviewing candidates, choosing the ones to hire, and ensuring that individuals assigned to operations are properly trained.

Office administrator vs operations manager salary

Office administrators and operations managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Office Administrator	Operations Manager
Average salary	$37,423	$76,894
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $48,000	Between $47,000 And $123,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Delaware
Best paying company	Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory	McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industry	Government	Technology

Differences between office administrator and operations manager education

There are a few differences between an office administrator and an operations manager in terms of educational background:

	Office Administrator	Operations Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	University of Pennsylvania

Office administrator vs operations manager demographics

Here are the differences between office administrators' and operations managers' demographics:

	Office Administrator	Operations Manager
Average age	47	44
Gender ratio	Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3%	Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 7.9% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	6%	10%

Differences between office administrator and operations manager duties and responsibilities

Office administrator example responsibilities.

Monitor calls, manage calendars, travel, meeting arrangements, video conference and teleconferencing.
Formulate various procedures to assure efficient operation of the SharePoint system is managed properly for CFWB and BOS.
Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
Pull patients charts for doctors using EMR system as well as pulled chart from medical records room.
Create and update all departmental ISO documents.
Collect all outgoing FedEx overnight packages and ship with accurate tracking and conformation information.

Operations manager example responsibilities.

Manage and lead operations that include performance management, organizational development, employment compliance, employee relations, payroll management.
Manage 2HVAC system retrofit replacement teams.
Manage all invoices, A/P, A/R and other accounting duties.
Manage computer operation teams supporting propriety and DoD programs at the Lewisville site.
Manage 45 person division and day to day operations of scheduling, communications, A/R, A/P and customer care.
Manage the export booking and documentation department ensuring smooth on-time delivery.

Office administrator vs operations manager skills

Common office administrator skills

Customer Service, 18%
Patients, 11%
Data Entry, 8%
Office Equipment, 5%
Front Desk, 4%
PowerPoint, 3%

Common operations manager skills

Customer Service, 23%
Logistics, 7%
Continuous Improvement, 6%
Payroll, 5%
Project Management, 4%
Process Improvement, 4%

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Office Administrator vs Operations Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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