First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
SOC code 43-1011 · O*NET-SOC 43-1011.00 · Medium preparation needed · Office and administration
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects numerous job openings for this occupation
This is the first rung of management in the office world: supervising clerks, receptionists and admin staff, assigning work and handling the escalated problems. Most people reach it by being promoted out of the roles they now supervise, and it is the standard route toward office management.
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$69,500
a year
Hourly
$33.41
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$73,490
$35.33 per hour
Middle 50%
$55,950 – $85,090
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$45,610 – $104,710
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
1,436,680
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $45,610
- $21.93/hr
- 25th percentile
- $55,950
- $26.90/hr
- Median percentile
- $69,500
- $33.41/hr
- 75th percentile
- $85,090
- $40.91/hr
- 90th percentile
- $104,710
- $50.34/hr
What do first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers do?
Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Supervise the work of office, administrative, or customer service employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines, and proper procedures, correcting errors or problems.
- Resolve customer complaints or answer customers' questions regarding policies and procedures.
- Provide employees with guidance in handling difficult or complex problems or in resolving escalated complaints or disputes.
- Review records or reports pertaining to activities such as production, payroll, or shipping to verify details, monitor work activities, or evaluate performance.
- Discuss job performance problems with employees to identify causes and issues and to work on resolving problems.
- Prepare and issue work schedules, deadlines, and duty assignments for office or administrative staff.
- Recruit, interview, and select employees.
- Interpret and communicate work procedures and company policies to staff.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 45% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree45%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)23%
- Some College Courses20%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree10%
Common questions
How much does a first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers earn?
The national median is $69,500 a year. The full range runs from $45,610 at the 10th percentile to $104,710 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a first-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Active Learning3.8/5
Knowledge areas
- Administration and Management4.5/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.2/5
- English Language3.7/5
- Administrative3.7/5
- Computers and Electronics3.3/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.2/5
- Economics and Accounting3.1/5
- Education and Training3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Instructing.