Learn About the Different Administrative Job Titles and Descriptions (2024)

Administrative jobs can encompass a wide variety of duties. Administrative workers are those who provide support to a company. This support might include generaloffice management,answering phones, speaking with clients, assisting an employer, clerical work (including maintaining records and entering data), or a variety of other tasks.

Because administration is such a broad category, there are many different administrative job titles. Some of these titles, like “administrative assistant” and “program administrator,” refer to jobs with similar duties. However, some job titles describe very different types of jobs.

Use this list of administrative jobs during your search for a new position.

You might also use this list to encourage your employer to change the title of your position to better fit your responsibilities.

Administrative Jobs: Salary and Occupational Outlook

Most administrative jobs pay between $30,000 and $40,000 per year,according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). At the low end of the pay scale,material recording clerksearn a median annual salary of $30,010.Executive assistantsearn twice that amount, making a median annual salary of $60,890.

Administrative jobs are on the decline; however, the BLS projects job openings due to retirements and career changes. These jobs requireorganization, communication, and technical skills, but they are often open to candidates with a high school diploma and some additional training.

Common Administrative Job Titles

Below is a list of common administrative job titles organized by job type. Read below for a description of each job type. For more information about each job type, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics’Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Administrative Assistants and Secretaries

Secretaries and administrative assistants perform a variety of administrative and clerical duties. They might answer phones and support customers, organize files, prepare documents, and schedule appointments. Some companies use the terms "secretaries" and "administrative assistants" interchangeably. However, administrative assistants often have a higher degree of responsibility. Along with doing the work of a secretary, they might also be involved in organizing meetings and conferences, performing bookkeeping tasks, and even managing the office budget.

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Administrative Coordinator
  • Administrative Director
  • Administrative Manager
  • Administrative Services Manager
  • Administrative Services Officer
  • Administrative Specialist
  • Administrative Support Manager
  • Administrative Support Supervisor
  • Administrator
  • Assistant Director
  • Executive Assistant
  • Executive Services Administrator
  • Human Resources Administrator
  • Legal Secretary
  • Medical Secretary
  • Program Administrator
  • Program Manager
  • Secretary
  • Senior Administrative Coordinator
  • Senior Administrative Services Officer
  • Senior Executive Assistant
  • Senior Special Events Coordinator
  • Senior Support Assistant
  • Senior Support Specialist
  • Special Events Coordinator
  • Special Programs Coordinator

Bill and Account Collectors

Bill and account collectors help manage and maintain the finances of a company. They receive payments, record financial information, and arrange for payment of overdue bills. They often help debtors find solutions for paying their overdue bills. They might also perform other related clerical duties.

  • Account Collector
  • Bill Collector
  • Billing Coordinator

Financial Clerks

This job type includes bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks. These clerks produce and maintain financial records for companies. There are also financial clerks who perform less specified duties, such as carrying out financial transactions and helping customers. These clerks typically require a high school diploma, while bookkeepers, accountants, and auditing clerks require some postsecondary education. They often need at least some coursework or experience inaccounting.

  • Accounting Clerk
  • Auditing Clerk
  • Bookkeeper
  • Credit Clerk
  • Financial Clerk
  • Office Manager
  • Office Support Manager
  • Office Support Supervisor
  • Senior Administrative Analyst

General Office Clerks

General office clerks perform a variety of administrative tasks. They might answer telephones, file records, type and maintain documents, and assist clients. They might also do some basic bookkeeping and financial transactions.

  • Billing Clerk
  • Contract Administrator
  • File Clerk
  • General Office Clerk
  • Office Clerk
  • Staff Assistant
  • Typist
  • Word Processor

Information Clerks

Information clerks perform a variety of clerical duties. They often gather information to help the company. This might involve searching databases, retrieving files, or maintaining records. They typically need at least some coursework or experience with spreadsheet computer programs.

  • Data Entry
  • Information Clerk
  • Records Management Analyst
  • Support Assistant
  • Support Specialist

Mail Clerks

Postal service clerks receive, sort, and deliver mail. They may also assist customers either on the phone or in person.

  • Mail Clerk
  • Mail Clerk Leader

Material Recording Clerks

Material recording clerks track product information. They ensure proper shipment of items, track shipments, and maintain inventory. They might do some of their data recording in an office but often spend time tracking inventory in the company's warehouse.

  • Facility Manager
  • Material Recording Clerk
  • Senior Coordinator

Receptionists

Receptionists perform a variety of administrative tasks. They are often the first point of contact for clients and customers. They answer phones, greet customers, and answer questions about the organization.

  • Client Relations Manager
  • Office Assistant
  • Receptionist
  • Virtual Assistant
  • Virtual Receptionist
Learn About the Different Administrative Job Titles and Descriptions (2024)

FAQs

What are the job descriptions for administrator? ›

The job role of an administrator involves the following duties:
  • Preparing, organising and storing information in paper and digital form.
  • Dealing with queries on the phone and by email.
  • Greeting visitors at reception.
  • Managing diaries, scheduling meetings and booking rooms.
  • Arranging travel and accommodation.

What is an administrative job title? ›

The Administrative Manager is also known as the Office Manager or Head Administrator. This professional coordinates the company's administrative system to ensure processes run smoothly and according to the procedures set in place by the senior admin staff.

What is the brief description of administrative skills? ›

Administrative skills are qualities that help you complete tasks related to managing a business. This might involve responsibilities such as filing paperwork, meeting with internal and external stakeholders, presenting important information, developing processes, answering employee questions and more.

What is the job summary for administrative? ›

Administrative Support professionals provide invaluable assistance to executive teams and departments by ensuring processes run smoothly and efficiently. Your resume should emphasize your ability to arrange and coordinate meetings and events, effectively manage databases and data entry, and provide compliance research.

What is administrative job description? ›

An Administrator , or Administrative Assistant, performs clerical duties to help an office run smoothly and efficiently. Their duties include answering phone calls and emails, greeting and directing office visitors to designated meeting areas and building spreadsheets or presentations for leadership staff.

What are the four types of administrators? ›

There are several types of system administrators that oversee a certain aspect of system operations: network administrators, security administrators, database administrators, and server administrators. Some system administrators are responsible for multiple roles while others exclusively focus on their subject area.

What is the difference between administrative and office administrator? ›

Administrative is more general term, for less-skilled office work, like what secretaries used to do. Administrator is someone in charge, like systems administrator being in charge of the computers, which requires technical skills.

What is a good job title for someone who does everything? ›

A more inclusive job title for “Jack of all Trades” (12 ideas) Generalist — this title is often used in HR (e.g., HR Generalist) and means someone who does a bit of everything in their HR Department. Person of Many Skills — Kagoagh Resort and Fishing Lodge uses this simple inclusive title.

What is the difference between an admin associate and an admin assistant? ›

Administrative associates perform administrative tasks at companies. The role bears similarity to an administrative assistant position but at a higher level. Administrative associates generally spend less time on secretarial duties and instead focus more on departmental operation.

How do I learn administrative skills? ›

Boost Your Administrative Skills With These 6 Steps
  1. Pursue training and development. Investigate your company's internal training offerings, if it has any. ...
  2. Join industry associations. ...
  3. Choose a mentor. ...
  4. Take on new challenges. ...
  5. Help a nonprofit. ...
  6. Participate in diverse projects.
Jan 25, 2023

What personal characteristics define an excellent administrator? ›

Administrators effectively lead others. They set a vision, rally others around it and guide them toward achieving it. Effective leadership involves acting decisively, dependably and responsibly. Outstanding administrators are steadfast and trustworthy and behave ethically in any scenario.

What are the three administrative skills? ›

They include communication and organizational skills, as well as project management skills, bookkeeping skills, and time management skills. Administrative skills are important to the following roles: Office managers. Receptionists.

What is an administrative summary? ›

What is an administrative summary of qualifications? An administrative assistant summary of qualifications is a brief paragraph or a short bulleted list that you write on a resume to show any special skills you have that would be beneficial to the job for which you're applying.

What are the top 3 skills of an administrative assistant? ›

To be an effective administrative assistant, you need skills in: Organization: Managing tasks, schedules, and information. Communication: Clear written and verbal communication. Time Management: Prioritizing and meeting deadlines.

What are some of administrative duties? ›

The following is a list of administrative duties you might perform in an office setting:
  • Filing and keeping data in storage. ...
  • Performing research. ...
  • Answering phone calls. ...
  • Welcoming and greeting guests. ...
  • Purchasing tools and materials. ...
  • Sending emails to clients. ...
  • Controlling change. ...
  • Maintaining public relations.
Apr 12, 2024

What are the roles and functions of an administrator? ›

Key takeaways: Administrators play a critical role in businesses, with their responsibilities varying across industries, and including tasks such as managing an office, fielding inquiries, overseeing office inventory, scheduling meetings and supervising other administrative personnel.

What is office administrator job description? ›

An Office Administrator is primarily responsible for keeping meetings on track with communication between participants, so no one feels left out. They welcome visitors and make sure everyone knows where things are. They may also answer phones and emails for the company.

What is a typical job responsibility of administrative professionals? ›

An administrative professional performs a range of clerical and administrative duties in an office. Your responsibilities are to answer phone calls, schedule meetings and appointments, coordinate travel arrangements, sort the mail, manage the office calendar, and assist with any additional support duties.

What tasks would an office administrator typically do? ›

An office administrator, or Office Manager, completes clerical and administrative tasks for an office. Their main duties include welcoming and directing visitors, coordinating meetings and appointments and performing clerical tasks, like answering phones and responding to emails.

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