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Career

Administrative Services Managers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $114,130 Median per year · $54.87/hr Most earn $67,100–$207,720

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Direct or coordinate the supportive services department of a business, agency, or organization.
  • Analyze internal processes and recommend and implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations, such as supply changes or the disposal of records.
  • Hire and terminate clerical and administrative personnel.
  • Acquire, distribute and store supplies.
  • Analyze internal processes and recommend and implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations, such as supply changes or the disposal of records.
  • Conduct classes to teach procedures to staff.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 22,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • State government, excluding education and hospitals8.3%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals7.2%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools6.8%
  • Management of companies and enterprises4.9%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals3.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Administrative Services Managers usually don't start in this job straight out of school. Most people first spend about 2 to 4 years in office or administrative roles, often after a short certificate or apprenticeship, before moving into management.

  1. Certificate or apprenticeship in office administration or business

    1-2 years

    Short, hands-on training in office systems, records, communication, and basic business skills gives you a starting point for admin work.

  2. Executive Administrative Assistant

    2-4 years

    Supporting managers and running daily office operations builds the scheduling, vendor, records, and team coordination skills that administrative services management depends on.

  3. Administrative Services Manager

    Career goal

    You plan and oversee services like records management, mail, supplies, and office support for an organization.

Where it can lead

  1. Facilities Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on responsibility for buildings, property, and space planning as well as administrative services, which usually means more budget and staff oversight.

  2. General and Operations Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You manage a broader part of the organization, often across several departments, which typically requires a strong track record of leading teams and running budgets.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take business, computer, and typing classesThese classes build the office software, communication, and organizing skills that admin work relies on.
  • Join a club like DECA, FBLA, or student governmentLeading events, managing budgets, and working in teams give you real examples of coordination and planning.
  • Get a part-time job in a school office or storeA starter job teaches you how an office runs, how to handle records and customers, and how to work under deadlines.
  • Volunteer for an organization that needs help with events or paperworkHelping a local nonprofit or church with scheduling, mail, or supplies shows you what administrative work looks like day to day.

In college

  • Take courses in business administration, office management, or information managementThese courses cover records, operations, and organizational planning that directly match this career's duties.
  • Look for an internship or work-study job in an administrative officeWork-study jobs in a campus office let you handle real records, scheduling, and purchasing while you study.
  • Earn an office administration or records management certificateA certificate is a short, recognized credential that can help you qualify for admin roles sooner.
  • Lead a student organization or committeeRunning meetings, budgets, and volunteers gives you management experience to point to when you apply for jobs.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for an office job at a school, hospital, or local government, where administrative services are large and visible. Ask to help with records, mail, or purchasing so you learn the parts this career manages.
  • Get comfortable with office software, spreadsheets, and simple budgeting. These skills show up often in job ads and help you move into coordinator and manager roles.
  • Practice leading small tasks, like organizing a team project or training a new classmate. Management jobs value people who can coordinate others, not just do the work themselves.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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