How To Become An Office Manager/Office Coordinator: What It Is and Career Path

What is an office manager/office coordinator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Office managers monitor, assess, and identify strategies to improve services, systems, and processes in an office. They follow office workflow procedures to ensure maximum efficiency, maintain files and records with effective filing systems, and even schedule agendas, travel arrangements, and appointments for upper management.

They also often manage phone calls and correspondence such as emails, letters, and packages, monitor office expenditures, and handle rent and service contracts. They also perform basic bookkeeping activities, maintain office equipment, monitor office supplies inventory, place orders, and maintain a clean and organized work environment.

Office managers need a degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or other related field. They require basic knowledge of accounting and office management principles and experience with accounting software. They should have excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, organizational skills, time management skills, and problem-solving skills.

They earn an average of $22.33 per hour, which amounts to $46,449 per year. Office managers might progress in their careers to become accounting managers, business managers, assistant directors, and directors.

ScoreOffice Manager/Office CoordinatorUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,616

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.64%

Asian 5.22%

Black or African American 10.61%

Hispanic or Latino 18.58%

Unknown 4.72%

White 60.24%

Gender

female 91.19%

male 8.81%

Age - 48

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 - 48

Stress level

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.2

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an office manager/office coordinator

Explore office manager/office coordinator education requirements

Most common office manager/office coordinator degrees

Bachelor's

40.2 %

Associate

26.7 %

High School Diploma

17.4 %

Start to develop specific office manager/office coordinator skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	17.81%
Financial Reports	8.80%
Office Equipment	4.86%
Appointment Scheduling	4.30%
Office Operations	3.69%

Complete relevant office manager/office coordinator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New office managers/office coordinator 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 manager/office coordinator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real office manager/office coordinator resumes.

Research office manager/office coordinator duties and responsibilities

Manage production of an RFP to source $60m in software and services and manage a subset of the subsequent implementation.
Process weekly payroll through QuickBooks and conduct bank account reconciliation.
Establish a QuickBooks accounting system to reflect accurate financial records and streamline productivity.
Create PowerPoint presentations used for business development, organize files, develop spreadsheets, fax reports and scan documents.

Prepare your office manager/office coordinator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your office manager/office coordinator resume.

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