What is an office aide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Office aides take on administrative tasks in offices. Very much like secretaries, they maintain files, keep track of records, create meeting minutes, schedule meetings, and manage calendars. Making sure office supplies are always in stock is also their duty.

As an office aid, you may work in a variety of settings from governmental offices to schools, medical, and business institutions. The exact range of your responsibilities will vary depending on your employer. Filling this role in certain contexts you will need specialized education, like if you want to become an office aid at a legal firm, for instance.

You can get hired as an office aid with no more than a high school diploma, but there are vocational schools out there as well, offering training in office administration. Working in this position gives you an excellent chance to get an insight into business management or the base structure of other industries, so you can use it as a stepping stone for a more complex position.

ScoreOffice AideUS Average
Salary
2.3

Avg. Salary $29,255

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.6

Growth Rate -5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.94%

Asian 8.33%

Black or African American 9.97%

Hispanic or Latino 23.53%

Unknown 4.47%

White 52.76%

Gender

female 75.81%

male 24.19%

Age - 50
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 - 50
Stress Level
6.6

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.3

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.1

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Office Aide career paths

Key steps to become an office aide

  1. Explore office aide education requirements

    Most common office aide degrees

    Bachelor's

    45.0 %

    High School Diploma

    23.6 %

    Associate

    20.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific office aide skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Data Entry16.00%
    Phone Calls15.04%
    Telephone Calls8.45%
    Customer Service6.04%
    Front Desk4.60%
  3. Complete relevant office aide training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New office aides 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 an office aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real office aide resumes.
  4. Gain additional office aide certifications

    Office aide 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 office aide certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for office aides include Advanced First Aid & CPR and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research office aide duties and responsibilities

    • Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
    • Handle bulk mailings for annual donations, alumni & target donors.
    • Elaborate letters, PowerPoint presentations.
    • Create PowerPoint presentations used for school development.
  6. Prepare your office aide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your office aide 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 an office aide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Office Aide Resume templates

    Build a professional Office Aide 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 Office Aide resume.
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  7. Apply for office aide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an office aide 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 Office Aide Job

Zippi

Are you an Office Aide?

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Average office aide salary

The average Office Aide salary in the United States is $29,255 per year or $14 per hour. Office aide salaries range between $22,000 and $37,000 per year.

Average Office Aide Salary
$29,255 Yearly
$14.06 hourly

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How do office aides rate their job?

-/5

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Office Aide reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Pros

Good work life balance, low stress and responsibility

Cons

Low pay, lack of progression


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

The interaction with people and running an office

Cons

the pay, the hours and no one I mean one gives you credit for doing a job well done.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Cons

Rude customers who use profanity

Pros

Interacting with the public very friendly helpful in problem solving also I have patience with others


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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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