A first-line supervisor of office and administrative support workers leads and manages teams in office settings. You oversee daily operations, make decisions that keep work moving, and support your staff. Most positions require a bachelor's degree.
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You manage office and administrative support staff, making sure work gets done on time and to standard. Your day involves working with computers and systems, gathering information from multiple sources, and solving problems as they come up. You communicate regularly with your team, your own supervisors, and other departments. You monitor performance, analyze data to spot trends, and process information that helps your organization run smoothly. You also handle hiring, training, and personnel decisions that affect your team's success.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers earn a median of $69,500 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 0 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 144,500 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most positions require a bachelor's degree, though some employers may consider candidates with strong experience in administrative roles. You will benefit from building skills in monitoring team performance, speaking clearly, and active listening. Take courses in administration and management, customer service, and human resources. Gain hands-on experience in office settings, starting in administrative support roles. This gives you the foundation to move into a supervisory position and understand the work your team does.
Your path typically moves from administrative support roles into supervision with a bachelor's degree. If you are deciding between different education timelines or want to map out the steps from where you are now, Pathly can map the first-line supervisor of office and administrative support workers path that fits you with your counselor to build a plan that fits your situation.
You do not need a license to work as a first-line supervisor of office and administrative support workers, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You thrive in leadership roles where you can drive results, make decisions, and build strong teams. You enjoy working with people and systems to keep operations running well.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).