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Administrative Managers

Administrative managers ensure that the administrative support team operates efficiently. In order to meet objectives an administrative manager plans, coordinates and organizes employees' activities. Implementing new company policies is part of the occupation. Administrative managers are employed in virtually all industries.

Effective administrative managers know the strength and weaknesses of staff members, the time required to complete tasks and the results that are required. They ensure the work meets established quality standards. Those in administrative management also provide deadlines to their staff members.

A good administrative manager might improve procedures and delete outdated practices. Those in administrative management need to inform higher level managers when newly implemented procedures are not working effectively.

Administrative managers along with financial, production, purchasing and marketing managers are regarded as functional managers. Administrative services manager is a popular job title. Administrative services managers oversee the numerous support services that help a company or organization operate efficiently.

Administrative managers often act as a liaison between administrative staff and managerial staff members. They also keep upper management informed of their progress and any problems they need assistance or advice to solve. They typically provide upper management with progress reports.

If the company is unionized they must have a thorough understanding of the labor management agreements and they might meet with union representatives to talk about work problems or grievances.

Responsibilities

  • Resolve conflicts that occur among staff members
  • Review the work of staff personnel
  • Manage quality and cost control
  • Evaluate every workers' performance
  • Collect, adapt, store and distribute information within a company
  • Interview and evaluate job candidates
  • Provide orientation to new employees
  • Provide training to new workers, such as training with the company's computer system
  • Offer training for new software and office equipment to experienced employees
  • Restructure workflow

Job Characteristics

Most administrative managers work 40 hours per week, however some companies operate around the clock, thus some managers might have to work nights, weekends and holidays. Good communication, organizational, motivational, time management and interpersonal skills are important for the job. An administrative manager should be detailed oriented, have effective coaching and leadership abilities and have good problem solving skills.

Employment Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2006 to 2016 employment is expected to grow by 6% for office and administrative support supervisors and managers, which is slower than average for all occupations. The demand for office and administrative support supervisors and managers is primarily determined by the demand for administrative support employees. In addition, organizational restructuring might lower the demand for some managerial jobs and give more responsibility to office and administrative support supervisors.

Those seeking administrative supervisor and manager positions may encounter keen competition since the number of candidates should significantly exceed the number of job openings. In 2006, the median annual earnings of office and administrative support supervisors and managers was $43,510. The top ten percent earned over $71,340. Some office administrative support managers and supervisors may receive bonuses and/or stock options.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Companies often promote administrative support employees from their organization into administrative management and administrative supervisor positions. Several years of experience is typically required to move up to an administrative manager position. Workers must demonstrate they have the ability to be effective in a management position. A solid foundation with the company's computer system helps in acquiring an administrative management job.

Some employers require a bachelor's or an associate degree or some post-secondary education for an administrative management job. Courses in project management, time management and interpersonal relations are beneficial. Administrative managers seeking to move up to higher level positions may need a college degree.

Resources

Major Employers

The top employment industries for administrative managers are wholesalers, banks, retail businesses, government agencies, healthcare facilities, business service companies, insurance companies and schools.

Schools for Administrative Services Managers are listed in the Browse Schools Section.

Administrative Services Managers Skills

Below are the skills needed to be administrative services managers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Active Listening44
Reading Comprehension44
Time Management44
Speaking3.883.88
Coordination3.753.62

Administrative Services Managers Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be administrative services managers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Oral Comprehension44
Oral Expression44
Written Comprehension44
Written Expression3.884
Deductive Reasoning3.623.88

Administrative Services Managers Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be administrative services managers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
Customer and Personal Service4.445.17
Administration and Management4.244.56
English Language4.033.86
Clerical3.95.18
Computers and Electronics3.354.15

Administrative Services Managers Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being administrative services managers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Getting Information4.625.03
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.445.1
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.395.45
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.224.67
Scheduling Work and Activities4.195.09

Administrative Services Managers Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being administrative services managers according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Integrity4.73
Dependability4.69
Self Control4.53
Stress Tolerance4.44
Attention to Detail4.34

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Administrative Services Managers

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Administrative Services Managers jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim16,690$113,380
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington9,200$104,860
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land7,330$108,030
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell7,230$121,150
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward7,180$132,020
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale6,520$95,850
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach5,610$92,480
Austin-Round Rock4,020$106,660
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn3,590$97,640
San Diego-Carlsbad3,560$101,930

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Total employment and salary for professions similar to administrative managers

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Administrative Services Managers.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.