by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Business & Office Technology involves the study of Business/office Automation/technology/data Entry. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Support Business Information Operations By Using Computer Equipment To Enter, Process, And Retrieve Data For A Wide Variety Of Administrative Purposes. Includes Instruction In Using Basic Business Software And Hardware, Business Computer Networking, Principles Of Desktop Publishing, Preparing Mass Mailings, Compiling And Editing Spreadsheets, List Maintenance, Preparing Tables And Graphs, Receipt Control, And Preparing Business Performance Reports. Continue reading for the important information every business & office technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering business & office technology programs.
Nationwide, business & office technology draws strong interest, with 1,964 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Business & Office Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 114 schools to determine the best overall colleges for business & office technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of business & office technology programs later in this article.
Studies in Business & Office Technology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations business & office technology graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a business & office technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a business & office technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several business & office technology 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 | 179 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 188 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 33 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,475 |
People currently working in careers related to business & office technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 31.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 24.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 22.7% |
| Some college courses | 16.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.1% |
| Master’s degree | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in business & office technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in business & office technology can lead to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to business & office technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to business & office technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | 1,062,982 | 11.9% |
| Data Entry Keyers | 418,460 | 10.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of business & office technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,716 |
| 4 years | $28,352 |
| 5 years | $31,368 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for business & office technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers business & office technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $57,361 |
| Data Entry Keyers | $33,881 |
With 114 different business & office technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased business & office technology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in business & office technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
