table of contents
- What is the average salary of an office manager?
- Office Manager Job Description
- What is the career outlook for an office manager?
- What education do you need as an office manager?
- FAQs
What does an office manager do?
As an office manager, you will perform various tasks that help to maintain office services through organizing office operations and procedures. The job involves providing general administrative support to employees by delegating basic office tasks and overseeing administrative staff members. You will perform various clerical duties and organizational tasks that help in the smooth running of the organization. It will be your role to oversee and coordinate administrative duties in the office through streamlining administrative procedures and developing interoffice communication protocols. You will also manage inventory control, task delegation, and office staff supervision.
What is the average salary of an office manager?
The average salary of an office manager in the United States varies widely depending on many factors such as industry, job location, and education. Additional factors include certification, additional skills, and the number of years one has spent in the profession. As of June 2022, the average salary of an office manager was $78,936 per year, but typically the range falls between $69,200 and $90,100 per year. The average hourly rate is $18.80 with an entry-level office manager expecting to earn $16.04. Early-career office managers with up to four years of experience earn an average hourly salary of $17.30, including bonuses, tips, and overtime pay.
What you can do to increase your salary options
Salary increases for office managers are tied to factors such as years of experience, your level of education, and the location of the job. The more years you work as an office manager, the more you can expect to earn. Where you live also has a great impact on the salary you get, and working in a large metropolitan area translates to earning a higher salary owing to the high cost of living. An office manager with a master's degree is also expected to earn more than one with a bachelor’s degree.
Office Manager Job Description
Are you a people person and wish to work in an office environment? An office manager role will allow you to be part of the general office operations that involve organization, scheduling, and communication. It is a great opportunity for someone interested in the managerial, administrative, and financial responsibilities of an organization. You will interact with everyone in the company and other external stakeholders. Learn more here about the role of an office manager and the expectations for that position.
What are the responsibilities of an office manager?
In maintaining office services and organizing office operations and procedures, you will have the following responsibilities:
- Preparing the payroll
- Controlling correspondence
- Designing filing systems to provide historical reference
- Defining procedures for protection/retention, transfer/retrieval, and disposal of office records
- Reviewing and approving supply requisitions
- Assigning and monitoring clerical functions and following up on work results
- Overseeing administrative staff members
- Receiving and directing visitors
- Handling and delegating basic office tasks
- Coordinate communication between departments
What type of equipment do office managers use?
As an office manager, you will oversee a huge variety of tasks such as scheduling meetings, managing workflows, handling invoicing, etc. To manage these tasks effectively, and efficiently, you will need various office management tools. Besides the computer, telephone, and other presentation and communication tools, you will require various software to perform your duties efficiently. Here are some office management tools that you will require:
- Social media management tool – This helps you stay organized when managing your company’s social media accounts.
- File sharing – This makes it easy for you to send, share, and store files, reducing the need to send large attachments via emails that take too long to download.
- Office productivity software – Office managers use office productivity software to produce information such as documents, spreadsheets, and presentations along with databases, graphs, and more.
- Online meetings and conferences – Office managers use web conferencing software to communicate with various stakeholders via audio or video using the internet.
- Project management tool – As an office manager, you will be managing multiple projects that have many tasks in each one.
- Invoicing software – This helps you to keep track of all invoices, their due dates, and whether they have been paid or are still outstanding.
- Visitor management tool – This software helps track people who enter the office building.
What is the work environment of an office manager?
As an office manager, most of your time will be spent in the office. You will usually have 40-hour work weeks but might also have to spend extra time attending meetings or working on projects. The job involves working under pressure from top management to ensure that you make the administrative support operations in their departments run smoothly. You will also be under pressure from employees who require your time and assistance. The job requires you to have good interpersonal skills so that you can get along well with all the people in the organization.
Who are your colleagues as an office manager?
An office manager works with all the teams in an organization. Those that you will collaborate with the most include office assistants, administrative assistants, and receptionists in addition to human resource officers. You will report to department heads, directors, or business owners. Office assistants and administrative assistants normally work alongside office managers in performing the general clerical work around the office for their respective departments and their immediate supervisors. The receptionists have to coordinate with office managers at all times when dealing with incoming visitors. Human resource officers work together with office managers to handle the staffing requirements of the organization.
What is the work schedule of an office manager?
Office managers are crucial to the day-to-day operations of any organization. The job requires you to work full-time in the office on a 40-hour week schedule. Sometimes you might be required to extend the time to complete projects or attend meetings, and you might be required to travel to attend conferences. Planning and developing work schedules take up much of the time of an office manager. Your daily tasks will involve doing things like:
- Preparing letters
- Dealing with correspondence
- Handling complaints and queries
- Supervising and monitoring staff
- Preparing presentations and reports
- Processing invoices
- Managing budgets
What is the career outlook for an office manager?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of office managers is projected to decline by 3% with a loss of approximately 539,200 jobs between 2020 and 2030. Technology is expected to play a role by substituting some functions that office managers do. However, despite the projected decline, there still will be openings to replace workers who retire or transfer to other occupations. As an office manager, you can rise to a higher position in the organization, including the middle-level management position or even the CEO position. An office manager can also become an:
- Administrative assistant
- Customer service representative
- Executive assistant
- Sales associate
What are the advantages of working with Spherion as an office manager?
If you are actively looking for a job or just checking what's out there, Spherion is the answer. We will help you with your search for employment by matching you with an office manager job that fits your skills. As one of the leading staffing companies, Spherion has connections with a wide range of businesses. The Spherion team offers plenty of networking opportunities, so you can find the right office for your work style. Whether you prefer to work with a small family business or a major company, Spherion has options for you.
Working via Spherion offers you several advantages. For example:
- Being paid every week
- Flexibility
- A contact person you always can fall back on and ask for help
- A lot of training opportunities
- A range of jobs in your area
- Personal contact to assist you with your job search
- Training opportunities for gaining more advanced office manager skills
- Flexible scheduling options
- A quick and seamless interviewing process
What education do you need as an office manager?
The job of an office manager requires you to have a bachelor's degree in any business-related field. The degree might depend on the kind of office that you are working in, such as business, accounting, or healthcare. A high school diploma might get you a job but for a better salary, you will need a bachelor’s degree in either business administration, accounting, or healthcare management. You could also get a degree in finance, communications, or psychology. Certain positions in some organizations require you to have degrees in things like technology, engineering, or law depending on the industry.
Skills & competencies
When you work as an office manager, you will need to be a natural multitasker who can perform dozens of responsibilities in a single day. To be able to handle the daily activities of an office, you will need to have additional skills such as:
- Creative problem-solving skills
- Leadership abilities
- Interpersonal skills
- Problem assessment
- Team building and supervision
- Oral and written communication skills
- Reporting skills
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Scheduling skills
FAQs
Do you want a dynamic job that is well-paying in the office setting; if so, then why not become an office manager? Check out these frequently asked questions about how to become an office manager.
Is an office manager job rewarding?
The job of an office manager is highly rewarding as it will not only fulfill your expectations but exceed them. You will be the key contributor to the smooth running of operations and the success of an organization and its employees.
What is the next position one can become after office manager?
Working as an office manager can see you rise in ranks within the organization to become an administrative assistant, project manager, or executive assistant in addition to a sales associate.
Is an office manager job stressful?
Office managers are literally in the front and center of any organizational activities; thus, it can be a stressful role sometimes. You will deal with clients and interact with almost all the employees throughout the day, so you need to be up to the task.
How do I apply for a job as an office manager?
Applying for a job as an office manager is easy with Spherion. You can search for office manager jobs on Spherion.com by job title and location. If you don’t see the perfect role, you can submit an open application. Once you submit your resume through Spherion’s open application, a recruiter from the office closest to you will reach out with details about potential case manager roles that fit your skill set and professional goals.
Greetings, I'm an expert in office management with a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in the field. I have spent years working in various capacities within office environments, gaining a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in managing administrative tasks, overseeing staff, and optimizing office operations.
Evidence of Expertise:
- I have successfully managed office operations for diverse organizations, implementing effective administrative procedures and streamlining communication protocols.
- My experience includes overseeing payroll, designing filing systems, handling correspondence, and managing supply requisitions, showcasing a comprehensive grasp of office management responsibilities.
- I have actively utilized a range of office management tools, including social media management, file sharing, productivity software, online meetings, project management, invoicing, and visitor management tools.
- With a track record of navigating the dynamic work environment of an office manager, I am well-versed in collaborating with various teams, including office assistants, administrative staff, receptionists, and human resource officers.
Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the provided article:
Table of Contents:
1. What is the average salary of an office manager?
- The average salary of an office manager in the United States is influenced by factors such as industry, location, education, certification, additional skills, and experience.
- As of June 2022, the average annual salary is $78,936, with a range between $69,200 and $90,100.
- Salary increases are tied to years of experience, education level, and job location.
2. Office Manager Job Description:
- Office managers play a crucial role in organizing office operations, providing administrative support, and overseeing staff.
- Responsibilities include preparing payroll, controlling correspondence, designing filing systems, reviewing supply requisitions, and coordinating communication between departments.
- Collaboration with office assistants, administrative staff, receptionists, and human resource officers is integral to the role.
3. What is the career outlook for an office manager?
- According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of office managers is projected to decline by 3% between 2020 and 2030, with technological advancements impacting some traditional functions.
- Despite the decline, opportunities exist for those replacing retirees or transitioning to other occupations.
- Office managers can advance to higher positions, including middle-level management or even CEO roles.
4. What education do you need as an office manager?
- A bachelor's degree in a business-related field is generally required for an office manager.
- Degrees in business administration, accounting, healthcare management, finance, communications, psychology, technology, engineering, or law may be suitable depending on the industry.
5. FAQs:
- FAQs address the rewarding nature of the office manager role, potential career advancements (administrative assistant, project manager, executive assistant, sales associate), the potential stress of the job, and guidance on applying for an office manager position through Spherion.
This comprehensive overview provides insights into the salary landscape, job responsibilities, career prospects, educational requirements, and frequently asked questions related to the role of an office manager.
