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What is an office coordinator/administrative assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Anne McConnell Ph.D.

An administrative assistant helps an organization create and execute schedules. They help in managing company budgets, disseminating information, and maintaining effective workflow in the office. They also work with accounting departments to process invoices, make payments, and track receipts. An office coordinator provides help to staff, managers, and senior-level officers as required. They help create, prepare, and deliver reports to various departments. Also, they perform clerical duties, such as filing, faxing, answering phone calls, and responding to emails.

Administrative assistants are required to have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. An advanced degree, such as an associate's degree in office administration, will also be valuable. This role is best for individuals that are very organized and possess active communication and multitasking skills. An administrative director must be familiar with office equipment like fax machines, copy machines, and phone systems. They must also be comfortable with using the business email system.

What general advice would you give to an office coordinator/administrative assistant?

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Professor, West Virginia State University

I would say it's important to be very attentive to the way you communicate with your employers, managers, and co-workers. Even sending an e-mail can be an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and communication skills. Some people think that no one knows how to write anymore, or how to communicate in a professional way. I don't think that's true. But we don't always think about how our writing can be a tool to communicate our competence and seriousness. If you know how to write and communicate professionally-which college grads do-then make sure to demonstrate that in the workplace.
ScoreOffice Coordinator/Administrative AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $36,974

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.82%

Black or African American 9.25%

Hispanic or Latino 16.19%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.14%

Gender

female 90.31%

male 9.69%

Age - 52
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 - 52
Stress level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.4

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Office coordinator/administrative assistant career paths

Key steps to become an office coordinator/administrative assistant

  1. Explore office coordinator/administrative assistant education requirements

    Most common office coordinator/administrative assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    45.8 %

    Associate

    27.0 %

    High School Diploma

    14.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific office coordinator/administrative assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients24.43%
    Office Equipment14.62%
    Patient Charts13.55%
    Office Functions9.96%
    Data Entry4.33%
  3. Complete relevant office coordinator/administrative assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New office coordinator/administrative assistants 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 coordinator/administrative assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real office coordinator/administrative assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional office coordinator/administrative assistant certifications

    Office coordinator/administrative assistant 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 coordinator/administrative assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for office coordinator/administrative assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research office coordinator/administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Provide meeting and committee support - creating and managing PowerPoint presentations and using technical skills to facilitate participation and discussion.
    • Manage and update SharePoint database with department documents post upcoming calendar events and notify end users by email correspondence of changes.
    • Perform data entry of sensitive information including, personal information of patients in multiple different company databases.
    • Complete weekly payroll, open orders, fill orders, and close orders using company's software and system.
  6. Prepare your office coordinator/administrative assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your office coordinator/administrative assistant 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 coordinator/administrative assistant 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 coordinator/administrative assistant resume templates

    Build a professional office coordinator/administrative assistant 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 coordinator/administrative assistant resume.
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
    Office Coordinator/Administrative Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for office coordinator/administrative assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an office coordinator/administrative assistant 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 office coordinator/administrative assistant job

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Average office coordinator/administrative assistant salary

The average office coordinator/administrative assistant salary in the United States is $36,974 per year or $18 per hour. Office coordinator/administrative assistant salaries range between $27,000 and $48,000 per year.

Average office coordinator/administrative assistant salary
$36,974 Yearly
$17.78 hourly

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How do office coordinator/administrative assistants rate their job?

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Office coordinator/administrative assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Writing a message,Organizing receipts and expenses and sending them out when needed

Cons

Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

It my passion to help people in need. It makes me feel good to see people the Youth do well in the life

Cons

I don't like to see anyone stuck in between and not being helped.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

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


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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.

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