How To Become An Office Associate: What It Is and Career Path

What is an office associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice EdD

An office associate is responsible for handling incoming calls and managing filing systems. They record information and greet clients and visitors as needed. Updating paperwork, maintaining documents and word processing, and helping organize and maintain common office areas are part of their jurisdiction. They also perform general office clerk duties and errands, organizing travel by booking accommodations and reservations as required and coordinating events as necessary.

They maintain supply inventory and office equipment as needed, aid with client reception as needed, work as a virtual assistant, and creating, maintaining, and entering information into databases. Some coveted skills include; ability to write clearly and help with word processing when necessary, have a warm personality with good communication skills, and have the ability to work well under limited supervision.

They need a high school diploma or GED with relevant experience or an associate's degree. They typically earn $39,492 per year, which translates to $18.99 per hour. This job is in decline, dropping by 4%, and will lose 110,600 jobs by 2028.

What general advice would you give to an office associate?

Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice EdD

Recruitment & Scholarship Coordinator, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

1) Assume your first job won't be your last one. It is very common to change jobs/careers/employers; 2) Be a life-long learner. Earn additional credentials/degrees. Attend workshops in your field; 3) Educate yourself about issues of diversity. The world is a diverse place. Your ability to be comfortable with diverse populations will be welcomed by any employer.

ScoreOffice AssociateUS Average

Salary

2.4

Avg. Salary $31,276

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.6

Growth rate -5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.10%

Asian 8.06%

Black or African American 10.69%

Hispanic or Latino 17.60%

Unknown 4.75%

White 57.79%

Gender

female 75.13%

male 24.87%

Age - 50

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 - 50

Stress level

6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.3

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.1

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an office associate

Explore office associate education requirements

Most common office associate degrees

Bachelor's

44.9 %

Associate

24.0 %

High School Diploma

17.3 %

Start to develop specific office associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	21.96%
Patients	9.77%
Data Entry	9.35%
Office Equipment	5.92%
Patient Appointments	5.58%

Complete relevant office associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New office associates 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 an office associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real office associate resumes.

Gain additional office associate certifications

Office associate certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific office associate certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for office associates include International Accredited Business Accountant (IABA) and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).

More About Certifications

Research office associate duties and responsibilities

Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
Prepare complex PowerPoint presentations using sound and automate graphics.
Utilize PowerPoint and other graphics programs to develop supporting materials for presentations.
Arrange confidential documentation for patients and providers and correspond with providers regarding the status of their account.

Prepare your office associate resume

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

Choose from 10+ customizable office associate resume templates

Build a professional office associate 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 office associate resume.