What is a business administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Wayne Counts
introduction image

A business administrator is an individual who oversees and manages the daily operations of a company or organization. They are responsible for ensuring that the business runs efficiently and effectively by managing staff, finances, and resources. Business administrators are also involved in strategic planning, setting goals and objectives, and making decisions that impact the overall direction of the business. They are involved in hiring, training, and evaluating employees, as well as negotiating contracts with suppliers and vendors.

What general advice would you give to a Business Administrator?

W

Wayne CountsWayne Counts LinkedIn Profile

Associate Dean, The University of Texas Permian Basin

I think there will be an impact, both visible and invisible, for years to come. One of the big changes will be in how we do things. The change to remote and virtual business will probably never be fully reversed.
ScoreBusiness AdministratorUS Average
Salary
5.7

Avg. Salary $72,503

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.7

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.31%

Asian 8.70%

Black or African American 9.17%

Hispanic or Latino 12.85%

Unknown 5.11%

White 63.87%

Gender

female 66.69%

male 33.31%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress Level
5.7

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.7

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Business Administrator?

Pros

  • High earning potential

  • Opportunities for advancement

  • Variety in job tasks

  • Chance to work in different industries

  • Develop transferable skills

Cons

  • High stress levels and pressure to meet deadlines

  • Long and irregular work hours

  • Dealing with difficult clients or employees

  • Constant need to adapt to changes in the industry

  • Responsibility for company success or failure

Business Administrator career paths

Key steps to become a business administrator

  1. Explore business administrator education requirements

    Most common business administrator degrees

    Bachelor's

    59.0 %

    Associate

    18.6 %

    Master's

    11.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific business administrator skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service11.97%
    PowerPoint7.23%
    Payroll7.13%
    Team Support6.97%
    Financial Statements5.26%
  3. Complete relevant business administrator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New business administrators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a business administrator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real business administrator resumes.
  4. Gain additional business administrator certifications

    Business administrator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific business administrator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for business administrators include Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research business administrator duties and responsibilities

    • Create and manage a repository of group presentations and documents.
    • Coordinate and schedule travel arrangements, PowerPoint presentations and conference room set up for all quarterly sales and department meetings.
    • Design many email templates by using html and used them in notifications in Helsinki and Istanbul versions.
    • Diagnose and troubleshoot PC hardware and software problems, remote access and printing issues for internal and external employees.
  6. Prepare your business administrator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your business administrator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a business administrator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Business Administrator Resume templates

    Build a professional Business Administrator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Business Administrator resume.
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  7. Apply for business administrator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a business administrator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Business Administrator Job

Zippi

Are you a Business Administrator?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average business administrator salary

The average Business Administrator salary in the United States is $72,503 per year or $35 per hour. Business administrator salaries range between $45,000 and $114,000 per year.

Average Business Administrator Salary
$72,503 Yearly
$34.86 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do business administrators rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Business Administrator reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Cons

Nasty people calling in with a bad attitude. Favoritism is so blatantly obvious it's painful. The under tone of racism of higher management.

Pros

Meeting some interesting people which are kind and few and far between the nasty crowd.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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