introduction
Attention to detail and exceptional communication are essential for thriving in administrative roles. Organizational finesse and rapid skill acquisition can also be stepping stones to advancement in high-paying office jobs.
While many admin jobs begin at junior to intermediate levels of responsibility and compensation, they act as gateways to specialized positions. These often come with benefits and high-paying administrative jobs.
How do you get a job as an admin, and what are the high-paying jobs? Let’s explore these well-remunerated administrative roles to unveil the skills and experiences that could propel you toward securing one of these positions.
employee relations representative
Employee relations representatives are the link between employers and employees. They support employees and ensure a good relationship between employers and employees.
Maintaining a healthy work environment is crucial for employees to stay productive and happy. Seemingly, Gen Z workers are more likely to resign if they have poor relationships with colleagues, and this is where an employee relations representative plays a crucial role.
Employee relations representatives keep the workplace engine running smoothly by fostering a harmonious workplace and addressing conflicts related to performance, interpersonal relationships, and policy violations. Furthermore, the employee relations representative role opens up several career progression opportunities in high-paying office jobs.
The average employee relations representative salary in the U.S. is between $78,000 and $83,500 annually. The highest-paying industries for employee relations representatives are finance, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and retail.
executive assistant
Executive assistants directly support people in executive-level positions, such as CEOs, CFOs, or corporate vice presidents.
Responsibilities depend on your employer and industry but can include tasks such as:
- managing multiple calendars and schedules
- conducting research and creating presentations
- handling departmental expenses
- greeting clients
- overseeing administrative processes or junior admin staff
A typical path to executive assistant roles is climbing the admin assistant ladder.
By proving yourself in entry-level and mid-level roles, you can get the attention of employers who may be more than willing to fill open executive assistant positions with in-house staff who already know the team and the ropes.
Some companies also look for candidates with education, ranging from relevant certificates or two-year degree programs to bachelor's degrees.
On average, executive assistants earn between $77,000 to $79,000 a year. However, someone with five to ten years of experience could earn $85,000 or more, making it one of the high-paying office jobs in the U.S.
legal administrator
Legal administrators are pivotal in managing and overseeing the management and organization of legal operations within a law firm.
From court filings and case management to legal research and document drafting, this role is tasked with ensuring legal procedures and processes are followed in an efficient manner.
They are responsible for drafting and reviewing specific clauses within leases, meticulously proofreading documents, and efficiently managing the lease workflow using specialized software programs.
For those entering the field, starting salaries for lease administrators typically average around $68,000 annually in most regions. However, with accumulated experience, advanced education, and a honed skill set, you have the potential to command a salary upwards of $100,000 or more.
administrative coordinator
Despite the automation of administrative tasks, there is still a strong demand for administrative coordinators. Only human intervention can ensure efficiency and accuracy in record-keeping.
They provide essential support across departments, ensuring that daily operations run smoothly. Their responsibilities vary depending on the organization but often include:
- Managing and routing phone calls appropriately
- Processing and reporting on office expenses
- Maintaining physical and digital employee records
Today's administrative coordinators must coordinate the technical functions of an increasingly hybrid workforce.
A typical path to becoming an administrative coordinator starts with entry-level administrative roles.
While the role doesn't require advanced degrees, some companies prefer candidates with certificates, associate degrees, or even bachelor's degrees in business or office management.
Administrative coordinators typically earn between $59,000 and $75,000 annually, making it one of the high-paying office jobs in the U.S.
legal assistant
Legal assistants support attorneys and legal teams by managing administrative tasks and contributing to the smooth operation of law firms and legal departments.
While their primary responsibility is to help lawyers and ensure that clients receive the best representation with legal research and trial preparation, legal assistants also help draft and file court documents and emails and maintain communication with clients.
Legal assistants must be familiar with the law, legal procedures and protocols, and court systems to ensure that deadlines are met, legal processes are followed, and case materials are ready.
A thorough understanding of the law and good administrative skills go a long way in helping legal assistants earn between $70,000 to $74,000 annually.
human resources generalist
An HR generalist is one of the most varied HR roles and is often the first hire in a company.
They are the go-to person for handling various human resources tasks, keeping the employee experience smooth and positive. They ensure HR processes run effectively, from recruitment, compensation, admin, and more.
For an HR generalist, it’s all about supporting employees and aligning HR practices with company goals. They handle questions, resolve issues, and often support managers with team-related matters.
While not always required, a degree in human resources, business administration, or psychology can be a plus.
HR generalists earn around $78,000 on average annually, though experienced generalists, especially in larger companies or specialized industries, can see salaries reach up to $90,000 or more making it one of the high-paying office jobs in the U.S.
operations coordinator
An operations coordinator is the person who keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes. They often juggle multiple tasks, from organizing meetings and managing supplies to coordinating with different departments to ensure everything's on track.
For an operations coordinator, it is all about keeping processes efficient and solving problems as they come up.
If something requires attention, the operations coordinator usually resolves it.
While a specific degree isn't required, a business administration, communication, or management degree can help you land a suitable role.
Operations coordinators' salaries usually average around $53,000 annually. However, it could go up to $95,000 based on experience level, seniority, industry, and location.
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