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Job outlook for office services specialists in the United States
Office services specialist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected office services specialist job growth rate is -5% from 2018-2028.
About -130,800 new jobs for office services specialists are projected over the next decade.
Office services specialist salaries have increased 16% for office services specialists in the last 5 years.
There are over 615,571 office services specialists currently employed in the United States.
There are 148,419 active office services specialist job openings in the US.
The average office services specialist salary is $33,495.
Are office services specialist jobs in demand?
Office services specialist job and salary trends over time
Office services specialist jobs over time
Office services specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 615,571 | 0.18% |
| 2020 | 665,584 | 0.20% |
| 2019 | 705,748 | 0.21% |
| 2018 | 709,874 | 0.21% |
| 2017 | 708,685 | 0.21% |
Average office services specialist salary over time
Office services specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $33,495 | $16.10 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $32,272 | $15.52 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $31,030 | $14.92 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $29,864 | $14.36 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $28,991 | $13.94 | +3.4% |
Office services specialist jobs by state
Most common states for office services specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 454 | 65% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 273 | 37% |
| 3 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,085 | 34% |
| 4 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,230 | 33% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,832 | 33% |
| 6 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 584 | 30% |
| 7 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,168 | 28% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 376 | 28% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 299 | 28% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 210 | 28% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 173 | 28% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 164 | 28% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 262 | 27% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 2,229 | 26% |
| 15 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 446 | 26% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 226 | 26% |
| 17 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,868 | 25% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,391 | 25% |
| 19 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 783 | 25% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 256 | 24% |
Most common cities for office services specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irvine | 2 | 1% | $35,198 |
| 2 | Saint Louis | 2 | 1% | $30,034 |
| 3 | Hollywood | 1 | 1% | $32,200 |
| 4 | Kenner | 1 | 1% | $25,678 |
| 5 | San Francisco | 3 | 0% | $36,886 |
| 6 | Oakland | 2 | 0% | $36,799 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $29,542 |
| 8 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $27,959 |
| 9 | Charlotte | 1 | 0% | $30,540 |
| 10 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $34,202 |
| 11 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $36,621 |
| 12 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $32,156 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $35,480 |
| 14 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $32,207 |
Office Services Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of office services specialist experts
Ohio University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
Manhattan College
Ohio University - Lancaster Campus
University of Iowa
College of Charleston
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
Dixie State University
West Liberty University
Meredith College
What skills will help Office Services Specialists earn the most?
Allison White: I'll put professionalism at the top of the list, and then specialized skills come second regarding salary. The medical secretary used to be the one to earn top dollar. Now that there are Medical Assisting programs and licenses, the student must seek the special skills in terminology and clinical service from that degree to earn top dollar in the medical field. Employers want office skills (filing, customer service, scheduling, etc.) and clinical skills (vitals, patient intake, registration, etc.). Still, I recommend that those who are inexperienced seek skills and licenses in the area of their personal interest (law office, government office, medical office, education, and more). I took courses in legal terminology and legal office procedures while completing my associate's degree. I also pursued a business analyst certification and the MOS certifications early on. Later, I continued my education by earning a bachelor's degree in a dual major (business administration and marketing).
What soft skills should all Office Services Specialists possess?
Allison White: Employers have told me repeatedly that soft skills are often the most important. They will ask for my reference after I've gotten to know a student and been able to identify their communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. They want someone to take the initiative yet know when to ask questions. Customer service skills and confidentiality were also voiced by our internship supervisors. Verbal and non-verbal communication is a must. The applicant must be able to write well!!
What hard/technical skills are most important for Office Services Specialists?
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's a good job out of college for Office Services Specialists?
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.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Office Services Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Robert Geraci Ph.D.: Two critical things happened in 2020 that will bring changes to the job market: the COVID-19 pandemic and the social justice movements, particularly the Black Lives Matter movement. In the aftermath of COVID-19, I expect we'll see considerable demand for health service professionals as people look to cope with difficulties imposed by isolation. In addition, we'll see shifts in how and where people work--many will be able to remain at home and this will create a shifting landscape of job descriptions and opportunities. Many employees will want to go back to the social experience of working together, but others will prefer the flexibility of working from home.
The impact of Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements will create more interest in the development of products (especially, but not exclusively, in entertainment) that are available to and interesting for a wider swath of society. There will also be growth in business consulting efforts to improve corporate culture. Religious Studies graduates will be particularly well-positioned for such jobs, based on the cross-cultural perspectives gleaned from study in the field.
What soft skills should all Office Services Specialists possess?
Robert Geraci Ph.D.: The ability to read, write, and think critically are timeless skills. Applying these thoughtfully to social media could be a particularly crucial skill as companies seek to brand themselves effectively and avoid public missteps that come from cultural ignorance and/or myopic views of the American public. Students in Religious Studies receive an education that recognizes cultural diversity and have opportunities to think about what is or is not an effective and accurate perspective of different peoples.
How have salaries changed over time for Office Services Specialists?
Robert Geraci Ph.D.: There is no professional field in Religious Studies. Students who major in Religious Studies typically end up working in the private sector, though many also join government, NGOs, and other international organizations. Salaries in these latter fields have been--as far as I'm aware--relatively static. But private sector jobs, especially those in tech companies are on the rise. The ability to help a company expand its audience and promote positive publicity will be of ongoing worth to companies as they expand their global footprints.
Brandy Bailey
Career CoachOhio University - Lancaster Campus
Student Services, Career Services
What soft skills should all Office Services Specialists 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.
What experience really stands out on Office Services Specialist resumes?
Brian Lai Ph.D.: Authentic experiences that mirror what they will be doing in a job. So internships in similar kinds of positions or experiential learning opportunities that mirror what positions require you to do.
What type of skills will young Office Services Specialists need?
Jacob Craig Ph.D.: In school, students are often taught to work by themselves. In some cases, they are even penalized for working with others. In some rare cases, students are asked to do a little group work but only for a short amount of time, at the end of their learning in a class.
The first thing that graduates need to know is that the workplace is nearly opposite from school. Employees, especially professional, technical, and content writer jobs, are more often than not collaborative and teams-based. The added wrinkle is that office culture is unlikely to go back to pre-pandemic occupancy rates.
So graduates need to know is that odds are good that at least part of their job will be remote. And that might be the case for at least part of the time. Announcements from tech, finance, and insurance about their latest work-from-home policies keep making the news. So not only are the chances good that they'll be working in teams, their team members and co-workers won't be in the same room with them. They'll be working collaboratively through writing. This is good news for English graduates. Much of the writing someone in a professional, technical, or content writing job are products meant for public readership. Like press releases that are sent to news outlets. But all of that writing is built on a network of notes, memos, policies, and text threads meant for co-workers. Remote work just means that co-workers will be writing each other more and more often. English graduates who can make texts for public audiences and write effectively to co-workers are positioned to do well.
The second thing that students need to know is how to start and stop writing in the context of someone else's draft. They will rarely begin with a blank screen and end with a finished text.
The third thing is that it's likely small businesses will take some time to bounce back. In those workplace settings, it is likely that an employee will need to have a range of knowledge and skills because their job will combine parts multiple roles. So a copywriter in a small marketing firm might need to also know something about SEO and social analytics and visual design. In larger offices, however, jobs tend to be much more specialized and team-based. So graduates need to be comfortable working in teams where they have an assigned role, and they need to be able to receive work in-process, complete their assigned part, and hand that work off still in-process.
And finally, students need to learn how to learn new technologies. Learn just through documentation, without a human tutorial. Even if employees are exclusively using the Microsoft Suite, it will be used for writing, editing, project management. It will be used to collaborate and present. Depending on where a student studies and what classes they take, those digital pieces might not be a part of their coursework. So, at the very least, students need to know that the workforce will constantly ask them to learn new technologies and new uses for familiar technologies.
What experience really stands out on Office Services Specialist 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 Office Services Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Robert Longwell-Grice EdD: Most colleges want to see a gap year that is connected to making the world a better place. An internship or a job with a non-profit can be life changing for ones personal development, and ones career. These can be local with an agency in ones community, or national with an agency like City Year or Americorps. Gap years should focus on 'soft skills' where possible so working with the public is ideal. Having said that, any job will give young people valuable experience. My gap year included driving a taxi in Dubuque, Iowa. Boy did I learn a lot about working with people!
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 Services Specialists 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.
Dr. Darrin Cox
Professor of HistoryWest Liberty University
College of Liberal Arts
What Office Services Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Darrin Cox: Reading. Then read some more. Read a wide array of materials from multiple perspectives related to your fields of interest and on topics that impact your immediate world. Reading will increase your specific knowledge in these areas, introduce you to competing interpretations, and hopefully stimulate critical thinking as you reconcile new information and perspectives into your own conclusions. Oh, and then read some more. Did I mention you should read?
What type of skills will young Office Services Specialists 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.