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Job outlook for office associates in the United States
Office associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected office associate job growth rate is -5% from 2018-2028.
About -130,800 new jobs for office associates are projected over the next decade.
Office associate salaries have increased 16% for office associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 899,788 office associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 80,214 active office associate job openings in the US.
The average office associate salary is $31,276.
Are office associate jobs in demand?
Office associate job and salary trends over time
Office associate jobs over time
Office associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 899,788 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | 970,543 | 0.29% |
| 2019 | 1,030,349 | 0.31% |
| 2018 | 1,037,688 | 0.31% |
| 2017 | 1,036,963 | 0.31% |
Average office associate salary over time
Office associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $31,276 | $15.04 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $30,134 | $14.49 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $28,974 | $13.93 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $27,885 | $13.41 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $27,071 | $13.01 | +3.4% |
Office associate jobs by state
Most common states for office associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 207 | 30% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 697 | 22% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,351 | 20% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 146 | 20% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,056 | 19% |
| 6 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 201 | 19% |
| 7 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,587 | 18% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 226 | 17% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 168 | 17% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 129 | 17% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 101 | 17% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 2,074 | 16% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 308 | 16% |
| 14 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 143 | 16% |
| 15 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,043 | 15% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,023 | 15% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 869 | 15% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 865 | 15% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 617 | 15% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 535 | 15% |
Most common cities for office associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laramie | 7 | 22% | $30,145 |
| 2 | Dedham | 2 | 8% | $32,614 |
| 3 | Hagerstown | 3 | 7% | $31,031 |
| 4 | Mount Pleasant | 3 | 4% | $23,109 |
| 5 | Evansville | 2 | 2% | $28,179 |
| 6 | Indianapolis | 5 | 1% | $29,123 |
| 7 | Anchorage | 3 | 1% | $52,289 |
| 8 | Orlando | 3 | 1% | $25,226 |
| 9 | Raleigh | 3 | 1% | $26,801 |
| 10 | Cincinnati | 2 | 1% | $29,611 |
| 11 | New York | 5 | 0% | $35,033 |
| 12 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $31,033 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs | 2 | 0% | $35,162 |
| 14 | Dallas | 2 | 0% | $24,923 |
Office Associate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of office associate experts
Ohio University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
California State University Channel Islands
Ohio University - Lancaster Campus
San Diego Mesa College
Fashion Institute of Technology
York College of Pennsylvania
University of Iowa
College of Charleston
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Dixie State University
Albright College
West Virginia State University
Meredith College
What hard/technical skills are most important for Office Associates?
Allison White: In addition to production software skills, including MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, we often taught database skills using MS Access. Every employer has an employee database and a customer/client database that requires input and sometimes maintenance by office personnel. Keyboarding (65+ wpm), basic bookkeeping/accounting, and filing skills are a must.
Christi Patton Luks
Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic AffairsMissouri University of Science & Technology
Linda & Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
What technical skills for an Office Associate stand out to employers?
Christi Patton Luks: I've always felt that the most important thing we teach our students is problem-solving skills. The students who can readily relate the theory to their practical experience to develop new solutions are the most valuable. Engineering students that are active on design teams or took advantage of internships and co-ops are in great position for this.
What's a good job out of college for Office Associates?
Christi Patton Luks: A good job out of college is one that can be adapted to the individual's skills and interests and encourages them to stretch. Frequently, students think they want to work in a particular type of job. Once they have it, they discover that it was not what they thought it would be. Many companies rotate new employees through a variety of positions. Those are great for helping people find their own hidden talents. I know that I have discovered abilities that I would not have even attempted when I was 20.
Amanda Carpenter
DirectorCalifornia State University Channel Islands
Department of Career Development and Alumni Engagement
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Office Associate job market given the pandemic?
Amanda Carpenter: -Market competition- We are seeing an increase in the number of applicants per position, making entry-level employment opportunities extremely competitive. New graduates may be competing for positions with professionals who have significantly more work experience. This means, new graduates must stand out in the applicant pool distinguishing strengths and skills related to the position.
-Recruiting strategy- Employers are adjusting their recruiting strategies in response to the pandemic with more recruiters opting to source candidates virtually. In result, candidates need to polish interview skills in a virtual environment and be prepared to interview in 1:1 and group settings virtually. Employers want to see how candidates respond in these challenging situations. Demonstrating resiliency, adaptability, and the ability to pivot are key skills to demonstrate during these times.
-Remote work- a significant increase in remote work positions opening doors for candidates to consider applying for roles outside of their geographical areas to including international and across the United States.
What technical skills for an Office Associate stand out to employers?
Amanda Carpenter: -Data analytics skills are critical technical skills that stand out to employers in today's market. According to NACE (2018), the use of data analytics is projected to have the most significant impact on an organization's operational efficiency and revenue generation.
-Source (NACE): www.naceweb.org
Brandy Bailey
Career CoachOhio University - Lancaster Campus
Student Services, Career Services
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Office Associates?
Brandy Bailey: The coronavirus pandemic has changed the job market in many ways. For recent graduates, they should highlight the fact that they have persevered and graduated during this time. It has impacted how they live, work, and go to school for over a year now! Many jobs may be work-from-home or only require employees to go in to the workplace one or a few days a week. There is more flexibility with work schedules, and employers are putting the health and safety of employees first now more than ever before. Today's graduates may be more adaptable to change, appreciate work-life balance, and possess communication skills that allow them to utilize a variety of communication methods, not only in-person, but virtually as well.
What soft skills should all Office Associates possess?
Brandy Bailey: Soft skills may vary depending on the employer, industry, and personal opinions. My biggest ones are communication skills, adaptability, self-awareness, teamwork, problem-solving, intercultural competency, creativity or innovation, and time management.
Meegan Feori Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorSan Diego Mesa College
Department is Business Department
What general advice would you give to an Office Associate?
Meegan Feori Ph.D.: Consider your career in terms of what you are willing to do right now to support yourself and be self-sufficient. During the last recession, I was underemployed, working as a part-time pool lifeguard and making funnel cakes at a local amusement park. Not ideal, but with my funds running low, it was necessary. A third part-time position I had, updating apparel tech packs, did pave my way to a full-time job in the fashion industry. So hustle and be flexible. Also, take time to consider what you can do to create opportunities for yourself. This could include an internship, volunteering, taking a warehouse position at a fashion brand, or completing a class that interests you. The best advice I was ever given was to keep pursuing your goals and accept that what you will be doing in ten years will be better than you ever imagined. The advice came true for me, and I think it will be true for you as well.
What experience really stands out on Office Associate resumes?
Alexander Nagel Ph.D.: I would state that students have an improved presence experiencing and working with virtual platforms. Particularly in the final year 2020/2021, we tried to stress the importance of online exhibits, social media and engagements online, digital art histories, looked at assignments in the virtual sphere, improved communication skills while presenting online. Due to the Art and Museum world changes, we also see a trend to be more sensitive towards the impact artists, and curators have on social justice.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Office Associates?
Alexander Nagel Ph.D.: This was a challenging year for everyone, for students, teachers, parents, many of which were caretakers at the same time. I think the enduring impact will be in the ways we learned to appreciate the value of face-to-face experiences; there is even more appetite for gallery and museum visits, everything that brings joy, connects us, and helps us to see the world through an artist's eyes and learning how to be optimistic and maintain a lively look into the future.
What soft skills should all Office Associates possess?
Alexander Nagel Ph.D.: Soft skills needed are flexibilities to adapt quickly to new opportunities, to be open to non-traditional career paths. Being organized and responsive to email correspondence, being friendly and kind, having empathy are values that will never be out of fashion. FIT is known for being home to "unconventional minds," and our students are super creative, engaged, and ready to take on challenges.
What technical skills for an Office Associate stand out to employers?
Travis Kurowski Ph.D.: Honestly, good writing skills are always in high demand. You'll see this in almost every field because at every level of business-from information management to internal communication to engaging customers, clients, and partners-clear, effective communication is critical. Other writing graduate skills that stand out to employers are project management skills, editing; quantitative and qualitative research; and practical design. It's not a technical skill, perhaps, but I can't help note that high up on the lists for almost all employers is creativity, a skill interlaced through many courses in quality writing programs.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Office Associates in the next 3-5 years?
Travis Kurowski Ph.D.: It's probably because I'm answering these questions in 2020, and so during a health pandemic and economic recession, but it seems the fact that video conferencing and other tools that allow people to work as teams from a distance (such as project management apps) will become much more critical over the coming years for all workplaces. These tools have long been available, and students on campuses already use many writing programs. But these tools will become integrated and essential for almost all businesses moving forward as we adapt to current economic realities and plan for a successful future for companies and communities.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Office Associates?
Brian Lai Ph.D.: I think the impact of the pandemic will be around for another year or so as in-person opportunities start to return. For graduates, the disruption in the economy and lack of in-person opportunities in traditional hiring areas (e.g. DC) has made it harder to find opportunities than before the pandemic.
What type of skills will young Office Associates need?
Brian Lai Ph.D.: They need to be able to write well, specifically be able to clearly summarize and analyze ideas, policies, and arguments in a succinct manner. They will need at least a working understanding of data analysis techniques, if not some ability to analyze data. In the field of IR, the ability to network and work in a group environment will be important.
What experience really stands out on Office Associate resumes?
Jacob Craig Ph.D.: I believe strongly in dexterity and a language of expertise. That means that if a student can show they can adapt to new demands by learning a new way of working, learning about a new audience, learning how to address a new purpose, learning a new genre or style, and learning a new technology, that employee attractive. Especially at the entry-level, the ability to learn and adapt is valuable. Being able to talk about their experience using a persuasive vocabulary is often useful. For instance, if students can describe their approach to communication without using cliches (short and sweet, clear) and something along the lines of purpose, audience, situation, genre, medium--that's persuasive.
Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice EdD
Recruitment & Scholarship CoordinatorUniversity of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Office of Student Services
What general advice would you give to an Office Associate?
Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice EdD: 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.
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.
Department Chair and Associate Professor of EnglishDixie State University
English Department
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Office Associates to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.: The great thing about a degree in English is that graduates can find work anywhere: teaching, freelance writing, technical writing, content production, editing, reporting-you name it. There are ample jobs in small towns and large cities in all of these areas. English degrees are also highly valued in a variety of jobs-such as sales, public relations, marketing, and paralegal work-because employers know these applicants, from day one, will have strong skills in writing, communication, critical thinking, and creative thinking.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Office Associates?
Guillaume de Syon Ph.D.: In the short term, yes, partly because the learning varied in coverage and sometimes quality. Compressed courses may have included the same objectives as regular, semester-long ones, but reading and writing had to be rescaled. Even courses running a regular semester were affected by distance learning.
Furthermore, internships and other campus jobs were frozen, thus affecting income, but also experience the graduates could share with potential employers. It is too soon to tell how much more of an impact the pandemic will have, but the fact that it will have affected at least two college years will prompt a reevaluation of the campus experience.
What experience really stands out on Office Associate resumes?
Guillaume de Syon Ph.D.: It all depends on the job one seeks, but longer service with one employer suggests stability. Adding an internship or two, even short ones (e.g. from summer) reveals openness of mind. This is important in the case of a humanities degree. Employers welcome these, but do want to see that the applicant has put their skills to work. Finally, stressing one's technical skills in various programs or generic software is good, even if acquired on the go (who knew of "Zoom" before the pandemic?). It also points to adaptability, especially when starting in an office at the entry level.
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
ProfessorWest Virginia State University
English Department
What Office Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Anne McConnell Ph.D.: I would encourage someone taking a gap year to branch out, seeking work experiences and employment situations that expose them to new skills and allow them to interact with a diverse set of people. Sometimes we find ourselves in a bubble-communicating with the same people, who tend to share the same ideas-and a gap year provides the opportunity to extend beyond that. Employers value employees who have open, flexible minds, and seeking out experiences that demonstrate that openness can be helpful.
What type of skills will young Office Associates need?
Angela Robbins Ph.D.: History majors are in high demand in government, business, and non-profits because of the knowledge and skills they gain in the classroom. History majors, in particular, are especially good at contextualizing-that is, explaining how an event or discussion fits within the big picture. This includes how things that are going on today-such as the Capitol riot on January 6-connects to the Constitution, the balance of powers, the way democracy works, and related issues such as the implications of propaganda and misinformation. This goes well beyond merely expressing an opinion or debating two sides of an issue. Students of history do their research and practice skills of analysis, collecting and scrutinizing evidence rather than taking something at face value or only relying on a single source. We take sources apart to evaluate the credentials of their creators and search for bias. We examine sources from various creators so we take into account multiple experiences and points of view. Then we synthesize-or bring the sources together-in order to communicate what it all means. These skills are desired by employers and translate well into many careers and work environments. Seeking good evidence to answer questions and solve problems, whether that's in the classroom today or working with clients later, is a skill that employers highly value.
Students are practicing other skills that are necessary to success in the workplace, whether that will be in person or online. Time management, seeing a project through from start to finish, hosting and contributing to meetings, working on a team-whether it's two people or ten-and creating appropriate types of presentations to communicate ideas are all things our students can tell their employers they will come in with so they can hit the ground running. In addition, our majors develop self-awareness, empathy, and an appreciation of diverse opinions and approaches to problems through investigation of the life experiences of historical figures and their classroom discussions with classmates. Certainly, every employer wants you to learn the specifics within their sector, but these skills are fairly universal and will benefit majors as they move from the classroom to career.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Office Associates?
Angela Robbins Ph.D.: That has yet to be seen, but WFH is here to stay in many sectors. This crisis has had many negative effects, both short term and long term, on workers. We are a women's college, so how this crisis has affected women in the workplace is particularly salient. For some, WFH has been an option and also a positive, because they have kept their jobs while practicing safety measures. But women with young children at home have been the most negatively affected as they try to balance work and family commitments, particularly when children can't be in school or day care. Some mothers have had to give up their jobs because of these conditions. More moms than dads have walked away from their jobs to care for their children, often because moms earn less and also because society expects women to put child care above career aspirations. So the normal mechanisms which, when in place, allow women to pursue the same career opportunities as men but, when missing, make it nearly impossible for women to pursue their career goals, threaten the gains women have made as professionals over the past couple of generations. That's another alarming aspect of this crisis.
Women in the service sector have been hit the hardest, perhaps keeping their jobs, but without the flexibility to work from home and stay safe and keep their families safe. This shines a spotlight on how many working women are in low-paying jobs and viewed as somehow dispensable and essential at the same time, which is not the focus of this feature but is a critical discussion about compensation and worker rights in America. It also impresses upon college women how a college education not only improves their future earnings potential-which is something we have traditionally emphasized-but also offers them a degree of job security. This crisis drives home the reality that, if it's at all possible to stay in college now, it will pay off in the long run. We are witnessing this in real time, so it's not just an idea about what might be. The evidence is in front of us. But for these future working moms to be able to keep their careers on track, we have to do a better job with child care, flexible work schedules, and pay equity, too. This is something that feminists have emphasized for generations.
What experience really stands out on Office Associate resumes?
Angela Robbins Ph.D.: History majors-and in fact, all students in the Humanities-practice skills in the classroom which have real-world, job performance implications, as laid out above. In my experience, students need to do a better job of communicating on their resumes what exactly those skills are so they do stand out. Job-seekers might list critical thinking skills, leadership skills, and the ability to work on a team on their resumes, for example, but for them to be able to point to specific examples from their classes and projects, and to be able to talk about those in interviews, is especially valuable. Internships also really stand out, because employers want to know that students have practiced these skills outside the classroom and have gained real-world experience, too.