Administrative Jobs: Options, Job Titles, and Descriptions

Administrative jobs can encompass a wide variety of duties. Administrative workers are those who provide support to a company. This support might include general office 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.

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 clerks earn a median annual salary of $30,010. Executive assistants earn 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 require organization, 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 in accounting.

• 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