by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Office Administration covers Office Management And Supervision. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Supervise And Manage The Operations And Personnel Of Business Offices And Management-Level Divisions. Includes Instruction In Employee Supervision, Management, And Labor Relations; Budgeting; Scheduling And Coordination; Office Systems Operation And Maintenance; Office Records Management, Organization, And Security; Office Facilities Design And Space Management; Preparation And Evaluation Of Business Management Data; And Public Relations. Read on to learn the essential details every office administration student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering office administration programs.
Across the country, office administration is a widely-pursued major, with 3,126 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Office Administration Schools ranking analyzes these 200 schools to determine the best overall colleges for office administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of office administration programs later in this article.
Studies in Office Administration develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations office administration graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a office administration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a office administration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several office administration degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 252 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,025 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 291 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,542 |
People currently working in careers related to office administration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 24.9% |
| Some college courses | 18.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| Master’s degree | 1.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in office administration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying office administration can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to office administration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to office administration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 425,994 | 9.0% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of office administration graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $62,537 |
| 4 years | $63,883 |
| 5 years | $71,749 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for office administration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers office administration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Administrative Services Managers | $158,084 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $27,636 |
With 200 different office administration programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased office administration school rankings to help you.
Students interested in office administration, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General | 336,590 |
| Organizational Leadership | 15,674 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,497 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 12,273 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 10,865 |
| Project Management | 4,784 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,454 |
| Retail Management | 1,434 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 1,230 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 579 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
