What is the salary and career path for a office manager?
Office manager is a close match for First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers (SOC 43-1011), the BLS code for those who directly supervise clerical and administrative staff. Its OEWS May 2025 median is $69,500 a year ($33.41 an hour), ranging from $45,610 at the 10th percentile to $104,710 at the 90th. BLS projects the code to edge down 0.3% over 2024–2034 — essentially flat — while turnover in a very large occupation still generates roughly 144,500 openings a year. Most office managers rise from administrative roles; a bachelor's degree helps but experience is the core requirement.
- Office Managers map to SOC 43-1011 with a $69,500 median (BLS OEWS May 2025); the top 10% clear $104,710.
- The role supervises clerical staff and runs office operations, usually reached from administrative roles without a required degree.
- BLS projects the code down 0.3% through 2034 — essentially flat — with ~144,500 openings a year from turnover.
- The ladder runs from office assistant to office manager to senior office manager and on to administrative services manager.
Career Path
How do you become a office manager?
Administrative / office assistant
Handling reception, records and office logistics sits near the $45,610 10th percentile before supervising.
Office Manager
Supervising the clerical team and running office operations earns the $69,500 median for SOC 43-1011.
Senior office / business manager
Running a larger office and its budget reaches the $85,090 75th percentile.
Administrative services manager
Overseeing facilities and admin across a company pushes pay to the $104,710 90th percentile and into SOC 11-3012.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays office managers the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-1011. National median: $69,500. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does office manager pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles office managers most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: office managers rank 2 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected −0.3% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly office managers clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-1011 (office managers) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do office managers need?
The typical minimum; an associate or bachelor's in business is a plus, not a requirement. See all state licences →
The International Association of Administrative Professionals' credential covering office-management competencies.
Valued where the office manager handles invoices, payroll input and budgets.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do office managers use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 43-1011
Salary Levers
How do office managers earn above the $69,500 BLS median?
Run a larger office and budget
Bigger staff and spend authority lift pay from the $45,610 floor toward the $69,500 median and above.
Add HR, finance or facilities scope
Owning payroll input, bookkeeping and vendors pushes pay toward the $85,090 75th percentile.
Advance to administrative services manager
Company-wide admin and facilities oversight reaches the $104,710 top decile in SOC 11-3012.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an office manager worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-1011. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Office Manager Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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