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.
Office Associate Overview
Office Associate Careers
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an office associate. For example, did you know that they make an average of $14.14 an hour? That's $29,404 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -4% and produce -110,600 job opportunities across the U.S.
What Does an Office Associate Do
There are certain skills that many office associates have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed customer-service skills, detail oriented and organizational skills.
How To Become an Office Associate
If you're interested in becoming an office associate, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 44.9% of office associates have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 4.9% of office associates have master's degrees. Even though most office associates have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become an office associate. When we researched the most common majors for an office associate, we found that they most commonly earn bachelor's degree degrees or associate degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on office associate resumes include high school diploma degrees or master's degree degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become an office associate. In fact, many office associate jobs require experience in a role such as cashier. Meanwhile, many office associates also have previous career experience in roles such as sales associate or customer service representative.
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Office Associate Career Paths
In addition to switching up your job search, it might prove helpful to look at a career path for your specific job. Now, what's a career path you ask? Well, it's practically a map that shows how you might advance from one job title to another. Our career paths are especially detailed with salary changes. So, for example, if you started out with the role of teller you might progress to a role such as specialist eventually. Later on in your career, you could end up with the title operations manager.
Office Associate
Operations Manager
7 Years
Office Manager
5 Years
Controller
9 Years
General Manager
6 Years
Senior Administrative Assistant
7 Years
Branch Manager
6 Years
Show More
Office Associate Jobs You Might Like
What is the right job for my career path?
Tell us your goals and we'll match you with the rights job to get there.
Average Salary for an Office Associate
Office Associates in America make an average salary of $29,404 per year or $14 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $57,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $15,000 per year.
Average Salary
$29,404
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Best Paying Cities For Office Associates
Recently Added Salaries
Company  | Company | Start Date | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
College of Lake County Office Associate* | College of Lake County | 08/30/2021 | $31,66008/30/2021 |
Morris Iron Office Associate | Morris Iron | 08/28/2021 | $41,74008/28/2021 |
Accenture Contractor Jobs Office Experience Associate | Accenture Contractor Jobs | 08/26/2021 | $57,09908/26/2021 |
Albemarle County Office Associate III (Internal Only)-Woodbrook Elementary | Albemarle County | 08/26/2021 | $31,51408/26/2021 |
State of Nebraska VR Office Associate (Office Associate II) | State of Nebraska | 08/25/2021 | $27,94508/25/2021 |
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Office Associate Resumes
Designing and figuring out what to include on your resume can be tough, not to mention time-consuming. That's why we put together a guide that is designed to help you craft the perfect resume for becoming an Office Associate. If you're needing extra inspiration, take a look through our selection of templates that are specific to your job.
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Sophia Hart Office Associate |
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Donald Griffin Office Associate  Durham, NC  (300) 555-5355  dgriffin@example.com Experience Office Associate2018 - Present Food Lion•Durham, NC
Office Support Clerk2016 - 2018 Food Lion•Chesapeake, VA
Registrar2015 - 2016 Potomac High School•Washington, DC
Skills Insurance CardsCustomer ServiceSecretarial SupportScheduling AppointmentsMedical RecordsDatabaseEnsure AccuracyExternal CustomersPatient AccessStatistical Data Education Master's Degree In Business2014 - 2015 Strayer University•Washington, DC Bachelor's Degree In Finance2011 - 2014 Ohio State University•Columbus, OH |
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Rachel West Office Associate  Office Associate2013 - Present Ukpeagvik IOoOupiatNorthbrook, IL
Dispatch/Office Assistant2009 - 2013 AllstateNorthbrook, IL
Patient Registrar2008 - 2009 Good SamaritanIdaho Falls, ID
 Bachelor's Degree In Secretarial And Administrative Science2005 - 2008 West Coast Ultrasound InstituteLos Angeles, CA |
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Contact Information  Northbrook, IL (500) 555-8943 rwest@example.comSkills Medical Records Data Entry Office Tasks Insurance Companies Ensure Accuracy Outgoing Correspondence Office Functions Internet Patient Data Greeting Visitors |
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Lori Berry Office Associate  Charlotte, NC  (530) 555-1569  lberry@example.com Skills Scheduling AppointmentsFinancial TransactionsOutgoing CorrespondenceCommunity ResourcesPowerpointData EntryAccount BalancesEducational ActivitiesPatient CareACH |
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Employment History Office Associate2017 - Present Food Lion•Charlotte, NC
Accounting Clerk/Administrative Assistant2016 - 2017 Aerotek•Charlotte, NC
Education Internship2015 - 2016 Caritas Internationalis•Morgantown, WV
Education Master's Degree of Health Education2014 - 2015 West Virginia University•Morgantown, WV Bachelor's Degree of Kinesiology2011 - 2014 Texas State University•San Marcos, TX |
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Terry Alexander
Office Associate
Las Vegas, NVÂ Â |Â Â (940) 555-5868Â Â |Â Â talexander@example.com
Experience:
Office Associate | Clark County School District | Las Vegas, NV |
2020 - Present
- Train new staff on office procedures and phone etiquette.
- Provided excellent consistent customer service to business clients and general public.
- Entered sales data in computer system and generated reports for the auditors.
- Deposit of the day Customer Service Stock Room Special Projects
- Contacted insurance companies daily regarding eligibility, referrals, authorizations, payments, denials.
- Served as liaison first point of contact between patients, referring physicians, insurance companies, and Surgergy.
Office Technician | Walmart | Las Vegas, NV |
2018 - 2020
- Instruct cashiers and customer service supervisors on how to avoid future errors.
- Acted in supervisory position, ensuring automotive shop was in compliance to OSHA safety regulations.
- Stocked shelves, arranged and created displays, worked as cashier, and provided customer service
Education Internship | San Marcos Unified School District | Santa Barbara, CA |
2017 - 2018
- Create student documentation instruments in compliance with Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) standards.
- Adhere to state and district s special education policies and procedures.
- Edited and reviewed educational materials used as part of a certificate program.
Skills
- Special Education
- Scheduling Appointments
- Social Studies
- GPA
- Aquarium
- Internship Program
- Customer Service
- Word Processing
- Classroom Management
- RN
Education:
Master's Degree Degree | University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA |
2016 - 2017
- Major: History
Bachelor's Degree Degree | University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA |
2013 - 2016
- Major: History
Paul Hunter
Office Associate
Memphis, TN
(640) 555-4199
phunter@example.com
Experience:
2020 - Present
Office Associate / Adecco Staffing, USA / Memphis, TN
- Posted Home Office jobs on the internet.
- Prepare wide range of communications, reports and documents Answer incoming telephone calls & direct accordingly
- Answered telephone calls, taking messages or redirecting calls, as needed.
- Managed office services and records.
2019 - 2020
Office Helper / Verizon / Tampa, FL
- Worked with Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Lotus Notes, AWAS, RAMS, RDM and Adobe.
- Maintained all files; prepared purchase orders, spreadsheets, and correspondence.
- answer phones taking messages as to scheduling appointments.
- Delegated the restocking of all pantries, conference rooms, and copy areas with necessary supplies.
2018 - 2019
Business Internship / Verizon / Tampa, FL
- Utilized effective call handling and communication techniques to achieve quality standards.
- Safeguard confidential information and process payroll.
- Provide team with updates on delayed orders and system outages through communication with World Roam operation manger.
- Answered inbound sales calls and assisted customers with phone and internet installations.
- Encouraged standard of excellence in performance, communication, and attitude among Business Solutions Specialists.
- Developed effective relationships with all departments through clear communication.
Skills
Internet, Scheduling Appointments, Temporary Position, Telephone Calls, Communication, Payroll, Project Management, Business Operations, Business Units, Patient Care,
Education:
2016 - 2018
Associate's Degree Degree In Marketing / Pennsylvania State University / Main, PA
Bryan Barnes
Office Associate
Charlotte, NC
(470) 555-4118
bbarnes@example.com
Experience
Office Associate, Rooms To Go -
Charlotte, NC
2020 - Present
- Provided Customer Service throughout the payment and delivery processes, and with other issues associated with customer transactions.
- Exemplified the second-to-none customer service delivery for which Adventure Works is nationally renowned in all interactions with customers.
- Record changes of resident diet into database.
Work Study Office Assistant, ManpowerGroup -
Milwaukee, WI
2018 - 2020
- Answered multi phone line, filed confidential documents.
- Posted new positions to Intranet, phone system, and bulletin board.
- Provide superior customer service while answering high-volume multi-line phone system.
- Evaluated and selected discussion questions while facilitating communication efforts.
- Operate and maintain the copier and fax machines and request service as needed.
Assistant Buyer, Sears Holdings -
Hoffman Estates, IL
2015 - 2018
- Assisted in product development and negotiation to include cost, subsidy, and terms.
- Stocked sales floor with current and new merchandise.
- Assist guest on sales floor and put customer returns away
- Developed advertising and markdown strategies Process Development - Initiated a process to hold vendors accountable for timely delivery and product quality.
- Oversee sales floor decor and promotions .
- Assisted in product development of the American Eagle brand.
Skills
- Communication
- Purchase Orders
- Photo Shoots
- Product Mix
- Vendor Meetings
- Fax Machines
- New Items
- ERP
- Product Knowledge
- Fafsa
Education
Bachelor's Degree Degree In Marketing
2012 - 2015
DePaul University - Chicago, IL
Jeremy Rodriguez
Office Associate
Milwaukee, WI
(930) 555-6802
jrodriguez@example.com
Experience
Office Associate
, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
, Milwaukee, WI
2016 - Present
- Provided quick and responsive customer service.
- Run audit reports for the front office system.
- Planned travel arrangements for 5+ executives and staff.
- Provide administrative support to department, including word processing, handling correspondence, filing, faxing, phones and mail/e-mail.
Office Assistant/File Clerk
, ManpowerGroup
, Milwaukee, WI
2012 - 2016
- Answered and screened incoming phone calls Greeted and announced visitors, and provided guidance to appropriate locations.
- Record and maintain work orders as well as purchase orders.
- Collected, sorted and filed legal documents and other paperwork regarding Wayne County juveniles.
- Entered information from bills, purchase orders, and invoices into Excel and QuickBooks.
- Worked with general office procedures including assists in phone support for the supervisor.
- Responded to file request by searching, locating, retrieving and delivering records through established procedures in a timely manner.
Patient Representative
, Aspen Dental Management
, Syracuse, NY
2010 - 2012
- Followed up with insurance companies on daily basis with billing issues.
- Scrub and circulate in plastic /reconstructive procedures assist with pre-op and post-op patient care.
- Entered correct patient data into the computer terminals.
Skills
- Medical Records
- Financial Transactions
- Emergency
- Financial Statements
- Business Transactions
- Icd-9
- File Records
- Clerical Tasks
- Customer Service
- Travel Arrangements
Education
2008 - 2010
Associate's Degree Degree In Psychology, University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
Robert Hamilton
Office Associate
Austin, TXÂ Â |Â Â (850) 555-5226Â Â |Â Â rhamilton@example.com
Employment History:
Rooms To Go - Austin, TX
2020 - Present
Office Associate
- Provided Customer Service throughout the payment and delivery processes, and with other issues associated with customer transactions.
- Meet monthly sales and profit objectives by providing direct Customer Service Leadership.
St. Edward's University - Austin, TX
2014 - 2020
Office Clerical Assistant
- Received and directed telephone calls.
- Coordinate patient care, schedule appointments, and make referrals Track Patient Authorizations Verify insurance eligibility
- Key professional who consistently updates the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) database accurately, and in a timely manner.
- Managed all human resources including coaching and counseled employees, and when required implemented the disciplinary process within the institutional guidelines.
- Organized office supplies, folders, documents, and copies.
- Operated computer systems to input and retrieve all medical information per protocol.
AT&T - Austin, TX
2013 - 2014
Switchboard Operator
- Handled emergency calls on a daily basis, which in some cases, were highly emotional and involved risky/dangerous situations.
- Calculate and quote charges for services such as long-distance connections, Interrupt busy lines if an emergency warrants.
- Provide phone clients with information, directions, and emergency assistance as necessary.
Skills:
Customer Service, Student Workers, External Calls, Patient Care, File Papers, Guest Service, Financial Transactions, General Information, Scheduling Appointments, CPT
Education:
2013 - 2013
High School Diploma Degree
Jessica Russell
Office Associate
Phone (340) 555-5260Address New York, NY
E-mail jrussell@example.com
Experience
2018 - Present
Office Associate
City of New York · New York, NY
- Finalized customer purchases and resolved customer service issues.
- Work with manager on creating standard process and procedures for the Administrative Support team.
- Organize travel arrangements for staff's-ordinate and organize appointments and meetings.
2017 - 2018
Switchboard Receptionist
H&R Block · New York, NY
- Answered busy phones, taking messages and relaying information.
- Inventory Cash handling Point of sale purchases Multiple phone line experience Daily customer interaction Daily cleaning Scheduling appointments Sales
- Answer inbound telephone calls on a daily basis Set up appointments with guests Greet guests
2016 - 2017
Purchasing Assistant
OSRAM SYLVANIA · Boston, MA
- Issued purchase orders within the area of specific goods and services being acquired.
- Assigned, input, and did follow-up work on purchase orders.
- Expedited daily purchase orders to insure timely delivery.
Skills
- Vendor Invoices
- Logistics
- Sales Floor
- Confidential Information
- Purchase Orders
- Buyers
- Records Management
- Procedures
- Supplier Performance
- Visitor Badges
Education
2013 - 2016
Bachelor's Degree Degree In Criminal Justice
Northeastern University · Boston, MA
Christine Miller
Office Associate
Phone: (850) 555-1930Email: cmiller@example.comAddress: Detroit, MI
Employment History
Office Associate
2018 - Present
Kelly Services · Detroit, MI
- Worked with Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as proprietary computer systems.
- Used the numerical system when filing; complied with company policies concerning patient privacy HIPPA.
- Liaised with vendors to order and maintain inventory of office supplies.
- Conducted background checks of potential employees.
- Managed wide variety of customer service and administrative tasks to resolve customer issues quickly and efficiently.
- Coordinated and set up high-level conference calls, board and management meetings, special events and travel arrangements for top executives.
Office Administrator/Receptionist
2013 - 2018
Kelly Services · Detroit, MI
- Extract data from the Accutrax Database; generate documents/reports, update database with current information.
- Conducted background checks of potential employees.
- Address incoming and outgoing telephone calls from vendors, internal employees regarding packages incoming and outgoing.
- Managed department files, maintained calendars, directed calls, coordinated meetings and travel arrangements.
School Counseling Internship
2012 - 2013
farmington public schools · Detroit, MI
- Provide behavior support to students, crisis intervention/gatekeeper, develop interventions for behavior.
- Provided general educational and career development counseling to both military and civilian personnel.
- Coordinated and managed a student assistance program which involved all campus support services.
- Implemented an anti-bullying program, collecting data from all staff members on behavioral issues that needed addressing.
Skills
Clerical SupportAppropriate ReferralsAdministrative TasksWindowsCustomer OrdersGraduation RequirementsCustomer ServiceFront OfficePowerpointTelephone Calls
Education
Bachelor's Degree Degree In Elementary Education
2008 - 2011
Wayne State University · Detroit, MI
Master's Degree Degree In School Psychology
2011 - 2012
Wayne State University · Detroit, MI
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Learn How To Write an Office Associate Resume
At Zippia, we went through countless Office Associate resumes and compiled some information about how to optimize them. Here are some suggestions based on what we found, divided by the individual sections of the resume itself.
View Office Associate Resume Examples And TemplatesShow More Office Associate Demographics
Top Colleges for Office Associates
1. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
3. Ball State University
Muncie, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,896
Enrollment
15,529
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,105
Enrollment
13,729
6. Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$39,216
Enrollment
1,303
7. Morgan State University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,900
Enrollment
6,404
8. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
9. Siena Heights University
Adrian, MI • Private
In-State Tuition
$27,124
Enrollment
2,035
10. University of Akron
Akron, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$11,463
Enrollment
13,676
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Full Time
Part Time
Internship
Temporary
Top Skills For an Office Associate
The skills section on your resume can be almost as important as the experience section, so you want it to be an accurate portrayal of what you can do. Luckily, we've found all of the skills you'll need so even if you don't have these skills yet, you know what you need to work on. Out of all the resumes we looked through, 21.4% of office associates listed customer service on their resume, but soft skills such as customer-service skills and detail oriented are important as well.
- Customer Service, 21.4%
- Office Procedures, 9.7%
- Data Entry, 9.3%
- Scheduling Appointments, 7.4%
- Patient Care, 6.3%
- Other Skills, 45.9% See All Office Associate Skills
Best States For an Office Associate
Some places are better than others when it comes to starting a career as an office associate. The best states for people in this position are Hawaii, Alaska, California, and Connecticut. Office associates make the most in Hawaii with an average salary of $51,468. Whereas in Alaska and California, they would average $50,519 and $38,993, respectively. While office associates would only make an average of $36,962 in Connecticut, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
1. Alaska
Total Office Associate Jobs:
146
Highest 10% Earn:
$54,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
$50,519
Avg. Salary
2. Connecticut
Total Office Associate Jobs:
535
Highest 10% Earn:
$61,000
Location Quotient:
1.05
Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
$36,962
Avg. Salary
3. California
Total Office Associate Jobs:
4,348
Highest 10% Earn:
$63,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
$38,993
Avg. Salary