Office and Admin Support Worker Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Post-secondary training is essential to become an office support worker. It is preferable to have an associates or bachelors degree.
Training and Education
You'll generally want short-term on-the-job training for this career path. Of current office and admin support workers, 32% graduated from college with degrees. Some 43% of workers attened college but did not go on to get a bachelor's degree. A high school education was sufficient for 25% of employees.
Job Overview
Every organization needs support workers to help it run smoothly and efficiently. Office support workers provide this support. They can be found in almost every sector and the positions they occupy have different designations as shipping supervisor, customer services manager and teller supervisor.
Job Requirements
Experience is a very important requirement to become an office support worker. Generally, they are promoted to the level of an office support worker from within the organization itself. They also need to have good knowledge of the operations and the personnel of the company.
A post-secondary degree is always beneficial to open up career growth avenues. This provides the necessary grounding to learn more about finance and business related occupations. Those with potential for supervisory positions need to take courses in project and time management and interpersonal relations. They may also attend in-house training to prepare for such a position.
Office support workers need to be strong in problem solving and communication skills. Abilities like being able to coordinate, organize and lead others are also essential in an office support worker. It also pays if they have the quality to adapt to the different departments of the organization as well as the changing structure of the organization.
Nature of Work
Office support workers need to check out the working condition of the machineries and equipments used in a department. In case of malfunctioning, they report the problem to the repair personnel for correction. They also place requisitions for new supplies or equipments when necessary for their department. They also overview the work of the staff and plan their work. They make sure that the jobs are carried out to perfection by the staff and that deadlines are met once work is allotted. They also evaluate the performance of each worker. They may also interview potential employees and once they are recruited, they may train them. Sometimes, they even function as links between the managerial, technical and professional staff and the administrative support personnel.
Most office support workers work in the comfortable settings of the office environment. Generally, they work for about forty hours in a week.
Area Job Conditions
Finding office and admin support workers is easiest in Springfield (Illinois), Corvallis (Oregon), and Carson City (Nevada), and by comparison more challenging in Reading (Pennsylvania), McAllen (Texas), and Lancaster (Pennsylvania).
The pay is best in Flagstaff (Arizona), Fort Smith (Arkansas), and Champaign (Illinois) and worst in Miami (Florida), Gainesville (Florida), and Deltona (Florida).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Office and admin support workers working part-time accounted for 14% of those employed in 2008. Self-employed workers represent an estimated 7% of the total.
Career Videos
Office and Admin Support Workers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anniston | $38,000 | 40 | -48% |
| Auburn | $23,000 | 70 | -4% |
| Birmingham | $35,000 | 980 | +1% |
| Dothan | $26,000 | 90 | -9% |
| Florence | $28,000 | 40 | -52% |
| Huntsville | $34,000 | 320 | -15% |
| Mobile | $31,000 | 400 | +21% |
| Montgomery | $31,000 | 280 | -9% |
| Tuscaloosa | $25,000 | 120 | -22% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $43,000 | 890 | +208% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $54,000 | 40 | -56% |
| Phoenix | $36,000 | 1,550 | -56% |
| Prescott | $40,000 | 50 | -52% |
| Tucson | $32,000 | 250 | -63% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $31,000 | 830 | +132% |
| Fort Smith | $42,000 | 210 | +2% |
| Jonesboro | $24,000 | 30 | -63% |
| Little Rock | $28,000 | 640 | +2% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $36,000 | 550 | +13% |
| Fresno | $26,000 | 1,570 | +156% |
| Madera | $21,000 | 80 | +39% |
| Merced | $39,000 | 60 | -37% |
| Modesto | $26,000 | 350 | +19% |
| Napa | $35,000 | 120 | +12% |
| Oakland | $42,000 | 2,320 | +20% |
| Redding | $24,000 | 60 | -46% |
| Riverside | $28,000 | 3,370 | +40% |
| Sacramento | $28,000 | 4,590 | +175% |
| Salinas | $28,000 | 220 | -20% |
| San Diego | $28,000 | 4,170 | +66% |
| San Francisco | $41,000 | 1,860 | -1% |
| San Jose | $39,000 | 2,660 | +54% |
| Santa Ana | $32,000 | 4,350 | +51% |
| Santa Barbara | $29,000 | 1,510 | +401% |
| Santa Rosa | $26,000 | 420 | +26% |
| Vallejo | $31,000 | 280 | +30% |
| Visalia | $30,000 | 110 | -54% |
| Yuba City | $34,000 | 40 | -35% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $41,000 | 700 | +143% |
| Colorado Springs | $32,000 | 360 | -22% |
| Denver | $34,000 | 1,830 | -22% |
| Fort Collins | $33,000 | 70 | -67% |
| Grand Junction | $28,000 | 50 | -47% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $27,000 | 440 | -46% |
| Danbury | $23,000 | 190 | +58% |
| Hartford | $34,000 | 880 | -19% |
| New Haven | $26,000 | 430 | -16% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $32,000 | 60 | -34% |
| Wilmington | $29,000 | 390 | -36% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $37,000 | 3,400 | -22% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $27,000 | 200 | -47% |
| Deltona | $23,000 | 470 | +70% |
| Fort Walton Beach | $35,000 | 80 | -38% |
| Gainesville | $22,000 | 330 | +64% |
| Lakeland | $30,000 | 1,300 | +270% |
| Miami | $21,000 | 2,110 | +13% |
| Ocala | $22,000 | 200 | +22% |
| Orlando | $24,000 | 2,280 | +16% |
| Palm Bay | $31,000 | 190 | -46% |
| Panama City | $33,000 | 50 | -57% |
| Pensacola | $23,000 | 270 | +2% |
| Port St Lucie | $21,000 | 190 | -15% |
| Sarasota | $28,000 | 450 | -6% |
| Sebastian | $30,000 | 30 | -62% |
| Tallahassee | $27,000 | 180 | -38% |
| Tampa | $27,000 | 1,570 | -31% |
| West Palm Beach | $28,000 | 350 | -65% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $30,000 | 2,400 | -46% |
| Augusta | $30,000 | 120 | -68% |
| Columbus | $30,000 | 80 | -58% |
| Macon | $30,000 | 60 | -65% |
| Savannah | $32,000 | 50 | -81% |
| Warner Robins | $33,000 | 90 | +11% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $31,000 | 1,830 | +125% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $40,000 | 350 | -29% |
| Coeur Dalene | 30 | -67% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $29,000 | 830 | +599% |
| Champaign | $46,000 | 460 | +184% |
| Chicago | $35,000 | 21,410 | +197% |
| Danville | 80 | +105% | |
| Decatur | $32,000 | 120 | +58% |
| Kankakee | $32,000 | 150 | +152% |
| Peoria | $27,000 | 710 | +132% |
| Rockford | $28,000 | 390 | +44% |
| Springfield | $33,000 | 2,080 | +1059% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 50 | -27% | |
| Evansville | $29,000 | 60 | -81% |
| Fort Wayne | $31,000 | 130 | -66% |
| Indianapolis | $35,000 | 1,090 | -35% |
| Lafayette | $26,000 | 40 | -69% |
| South Bend | $31,000 | 60 | -75% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $29,000 | 110 | -54% |
| Davenport | $32,000 | 360 | +9% |
| Des Moines | $25,000 | 330 | -45% |
| Iowa City | $22,000 | 300 | +147% |
| Waterloo | $27,000 | 50 | -66% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $28,000 | 110 | -43% |
| Wichita | $27,000 | 370 | -34% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $29,000 | 50 | -47% |
| Lexington | $28,000 | 510 | +15% |
| Louisville | $31,000 | 1,340 | +16% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $29,000 | 380 | -44% |
| Lafayette | $28,000 | 80 | -69% |
| Lake Charles | $30,000 | 30 | -80% |
| Monroe | $35,000 | 90 | -32% |
| New Orleans | $32,000 | 520 | -45% |
| Shreveport | $25,000 | 190 | -40% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor | $28,000 | 140 | +31% |
| Lewiston | $32,000 | 80 | 0% |
| Portland | $28,000 | 200 | -46% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $38,000 | 2,940 | +20% |
| Bethesda | $44,000 | 1,140 | +7% |
| Hagerstown | $33,000 | 150 | -13% |
| Salisbury | $44,000 | 90 | +5% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $37,000 | 1,380 | -57% |
| Framingham | $39,000 | 80 | -73% |
| Haverhill | $21,000 | 220 | +68% |
| Lawrence | $25,000 | 170 | +80% |
| Lowell | $37,000 | 50 | -77% |
| Springfield | $28,000 | 210 | -62% |
| Worcester | $34,000 | 90 | -80% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $35,000 | 310 | +4% |
| Battle Creek | $31,000 | 140 | +77% |
| Bay City | $27,000 | 60 | +10% |
| Detroit | $36,000 | 1,550 | +17% |
| Flint | $38,000 | 320 | +32% |
| Grand Rapids | $36,000 | 930 | +32% |
| Holland | $33,000 | 360 | +104% |
| Jackson | $42,000 | 100 | +17% |
| Kalamazoo | $29,000 | 290 | +20% |
| Lansing | $36,000 | 1,030 | +195% |
| Monroe | $31,000 | 100 | +59% |
| Muskegon | $36,000 | 130 | +30% |
| Niles | $33,000 | 90 | -13% |
| Saginaw | $34,000 | 200 | +55% |
| Warren | $34,000 | 3,620 | +66% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $28,000 | 180 | -20% |
| Minneapolis | $33,000 | 6,820 | +102% |
| St Cloud | $26,000 | 140 | -21% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport | $40,000 | 60 | -68% |
| Jackson | $36,000 | 150 | -68% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $27,000 | 80 | -43% |
| Jefferson City | $31,000 | 70 | -39% |
| Kansas City | $31,000 | 1,130 | -42% |
| Springfield | $27,000 | 230 | -35% |
| St Joseph | $22,000 | 140 | +71% |
| St Louis | $32,000 | 1,750 | -31% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $39,000 | 90 | -35% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $27,000 | 230 | -21% |
| Omaha | $29,000 | 690 | -20% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City | $32,000 | 290 | +600% |
| Las Vegas | $29,000 | 8,180 | +371% |
| Reno | $29,000 | 1,930 | +413% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $26,000 | 470 | +158% |
| Nashua | $23,000 | 630 | +156% |
| Portsmouth | $27,000 | 540 | +479% |
| Rochester | $23,000 | 270 | +188% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City | $35,000 | 340 | +29% |
| Camden | $31,000 | 1,060 | +7% |
| Edison | $35,000 | 1,670 | -14% |
| Newark | $31,000 | 2,740 | +45% |
| Ocean City | $35,000 | 40 | -40% |
| Vineland | $37,000 | 90 | -5% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $28,000 | 300 | -59% |
| Las Cruces | $27,000 | 180 | +76% |
| Santa Fe | $32,000 | 320 | +203% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $39,000 | 1,490 | +83% |
| Buffalo | $45,000 | 1,370 | +36% |
| Glens Falls | $26,000 | 50 | -42% |
| Nassau | $42,000 | 1,370 | -42% |
| New York | $28,000 | 13,140 | +36% |
| Rochester | $32,000 | 1,010 | +8% |
| Utica | $30,000 | 180 | -20% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $27,000 | 80 | -75% |
| Burlington | 50 | -49% | |
| Charlotte | $34,000 | 770 | -54% |
| Durham | $34,000 | 170 | -66% |
| Fayetteville | $33,000 | 120 | -44% |
| Greensboro | $30,000 | 170 | -75% |
| Hickory | $36,000 | 40 | -86% |
| Raleigh | $30,000 | 600 | -37% |
| Rocky Mount | $26,000 | 40 | -59% |
| Wilmington | $33,000 | 100 | -61% |
| Winston Salem | $33,000 | 280 | -28% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $28,000 | 120 | -41% |
| Grand Forks | $30,000 | 30 | -62% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $31,000 | 310 | -50% |
| Canton | $27,000 | 130 | -58% |
| Cincinnati | $32,000 | 1,570 | -20% |
| Cleveland | $42,000 | 1,500 | -25% |
| Columbus | 1,290 | -27% | |
| Dayton | $31,000 | 540 | -25% |
| Mansfield | $30,000 | 70 | -18% |
| Sandusky | $27,000 | 50 | -9% |
| Toledo | $31,000 | 240 | -58% |
| Youngstown | $30,000 | 210 | -51% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $32,000 | 180 | -83% |
| Tulsa | $30,000 | 120 | -85% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $27,000 | 400 | +247% |
| Corvallis | $22,000 | 380 | +692% |
| Eugene | $25,000 | 1,860 | +599% |
| Medford | $26,000 | 440 | +205% |
| Portland | $30,000 | 6,700 | +243% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $33,000 | 200 | -68% |
| Erie | $32,000 | 60 | -73% |
| Johnstown | $37,000 | 40 | -57% |
| Lancaster | $33,000 | 50 | -88% |
| Lebanon | $37,000 | 40 | -46% |
| Philadelphia | $35,000 | 1,500 | -58% |
| Pittsburgh | $31,000 | 1,510 | -30% |
| Reading | $37,000 | 40 | -86% |
| Scranton | $38,000 | 140 | -70% |
| York | $38,000 | 120 | -63% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $25,000 | 1,840 | +74% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $32,000 | 100 | -81% |
| Columbia | $31,000 | 210 | -68% |
| Greenville | $30,000 | 220 | -61% |
| Spartanburg | $24,000 | 30 | -86% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $23,000 | 120 | -72% |
| Clarksville | $36,000 | 40 | -69% |
| Jackson | $28,000 | 50 | -47% |
| Johnson City | $35,000 | 60 | -52% |
| Kingsport | $30,000 | 80 | -60% |
| Knoxville | $29,000 | 100 | -84% |
| Nashville | $35,000 | 550 | -62% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $38,000 | 130 | +26% |
| Amarillo | $26,000 | 50 | -71% |
| Austin | $35,000 | 250 | -83% |
| Corpus Christi | $28,000 | 80 | -75% |
| Dallas | $37,000 | 960 | -76% |
| Fort Worth | $32,000 | 980 | -40% |
| Houston | $35,000 | 970 | -80% |
| Killeen | $34,000 | 260 | +24% |
| Laredo | $31,000 | 60 | -57% |
| Lubbock | $23,000 | 30 | -86% |
| Mcallen | $27,000 | 50 | -87% |
| Midland | $23,000 | 50 | -55% |
| San Angelo | $27,000 | 70 | +8% |
| San Antonio | $34,000 | 530 | -66% |
| Texarkana | $37,000 | 50 | -44% |
| Waco | $29,000 | 90 | -46% |
| Wichita Falls | $32,000 | 40 | -58% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden | $32,000 | 80 | -78% |
| Salt Lake City | $31,000 | 800 | -32% |
| St George | $25,000 | 30 | -62% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $34,000 | 470 | +192% |
| Lynchburg | $30,000 | 140 | -20% |
| Roanoke | $30,000 | 250 | -11% |
| Virginia Beach | $35,000 | 1,330 | -6% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $31,000 | 330 | +144% |
| Bremerton | $30,000 | 290 | +105% |
| Kennewick | $35,000 | 250 | +63% |
| Longview | $26,000 | 120 | +136% |
| Mount Vernon | $27,000 | 100 | +39% |
| Olympia | $32,000 | 280 | +74% |
| Seattle | $33,000 | 5,880 | +117% |
| Spokane | $28,000 | 880 | +132% |
| Tacoma | $32,000 | 990 | +100% |
| Wenatchee | $30,000 | 90 | +42% |
| Yakima | $28,000 | 270 | +98% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $31,000 | 100 | -61% |
| Huntington | $26,000 | 60 | -70% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton | $28,000 | 100 | -50% |
| Eau Claire | $25,000 | 90 | -31% |
| Green Bay | $25,000 | 240 | -20% |
| La Crosse | $31,000 | 60 | -48% |
| Madison | $29,000 | 450 | -27% |
| Milwaukee | $30,000 | 1,010 | -37% |
| Oshkosh | $27,000 | 160 | +11% |
| Racine | $26,000 | 60 | -54% |
| Wausau | $24,000 | 90 | -20% |
Wyoming
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | $30,000 | 40 | -33% |
| Cheyenne | $33,000 | 140 | +102% |