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What is an office support specialist and how to become one
Office support specialists are the individuals responsible for administrative duties in office environments. Typical job duties are greeting visitors, answering client questions, managing office space and organization, maintaining office equipment, ordering supplies, and preparing budgets.
Applicants need a high school degree or equivalent to be eligible for the role. They must also have at least one year of general office experience performing the full range of office support duties. Additionally, some positions may require public contact experience, minimum typing speed of at least 45 words per minute, and a current driver's license or other special certification.
The average office support specialist salary in the United States is $48,496, but the salary range typically falls between $41,914 and $56,287.
What general advice would you give to an Office Support Specialist?
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
Professor, West Virginia State University
Avg. Salary $36,549
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate -5%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.04%
Asian 6.80%
Black or African American 10.23%
Hispanic or Latino 18.35%
Unknown 4.60%
White 58.99%
Genderfemale 82.16%
male 17.84%
Age - 50American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 50Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is basic
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Office Support Specialist career paths
Key steps to become an office support specialist
Explore office support specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific office support specialist skills
Skills 
Percentages Customer Service 18.20% Data Entry 10.17% Phone Calls 6.72% Office Equipment 5.66% Human Resources 5.31% Complete relevant office support specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New office support specialists 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 support specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real office support specialist resumes.Gain additional office support specialist certifications
More About CertificationsOffice support specialist 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 support specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for office support specialists include Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP) and Word 2010 Certification.
Research office support specialist duties and responsibilities
- Manage and maintain patients' medical records by utilizing computer applications management database processing system to ensure county compliance.
- Create PowerPoint presentations to train employees on new software.
- Add new documents and update calendars to the SharePoint website for team collaboration.
- Conduct payroll accountability & evaluate for accuracy.
Prepare your office support specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your office support specialist 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 support specialist 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 Support Specialist Resume templates
Build a professional Office Support Specialist 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 Support Specialist resume.
Apply for office support specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an office support specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Office Support Specialist Job
Are you an Office Support Specialist?
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Average office support specialist salary
The average Office Support Specialist salary in the United States is $36,549 per year or $18 per hour. Office support specialist salaries range between $29,000 and $45,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do office support specialists rate their job?
Office Support Specialist reviews
Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,
Being able to motivate administrative personnel to do their jobs well and meet deadlines.
Having to reprimand personnel when duties are neglected.
The interaction with people and running an office
the pay, the hours and no one I mean one gives you credit for doing a job well done.
Updated January 8, 2025
