Support staff members work in a wide array of industries and their duties vary by company. In most instances, they are responsible for routine office tasks that other employees are too busy to handle. For instance, a support staff member might type letters or fax documents written by his superiors, or enter important data into computers. He might also assist with sales or bookkeeping.

Basics

Support staff members perform a variety of duties, and must be prepared to handle many tasks at once. They might be responsible for forwarding calls or important messages, or taking minutes at meetings. Some may even distribute their company’s incoming mail, while others may help schedule appointments. In some industries, support workers may have to make sure supplies are ordered and shelves are stocked. Occasionally, they might also be responsible for billing and even collections.

Skills

Support staff members need to be quick learners and versatile. They should possess strong communication skills—both written and verbal—and a sound work ethic. They need to approach their jobs with a positive attitude, and have a thorough understanding of their company’s policies and overall mission. On top of those things, support staff members likely need to own basic computer skills. Support staff often interact with customers, so they must be able to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner.

Background

Requirements to become a support staff member vary by industry. In most cases, a high school diploma and ability to learn on the job is sufficient. That’s especially true of those who carry the titles of administrative assistants, secretaries or receptionists. Some companies require support workers to carry an associate degree or certificate, with a focus on areas such as typing, grammar, communications and business. Again, much depends on the size and scope of each individual business.

Outlook

Opportunities for those provide office and clerical support should be plentiful for years to come. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for general office clerks are expected to increase by 12 percent through 2018. The BLS also estimated that employment of secretaries and administrative assistants will grow by 11 percent during the same decade.

Earnings

Wages for support staff members fluctuate by industry, as well as their time on the job and overall duties. According to the BLS, general office clerks earned a median wage of $25,320 per hour in May 2008, while secretaries and administrative assistants made a median hourly wage of $29,050 during the same month.

Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Employment and Labor Information 2023

Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Employment Brief:

Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.

Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers.

Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Responsibilities and Duties:

• Develop work schedules according to budgets and workloads.
• Research, compile, and prepare reports, manuals, correspondence, or other information required by management or governmental agencies.
• Analyze financial activities of establishments or departments and provide input into budget planning and preparation processes.
• Discuss job performance problems with employees to identify causes and issues and to work on resolving problems.
• Keep informed of provisions of labor-management agreements and their effects on departmental operations.
• Prepare and issue work schedules, deadlines, and duty assignments for office or administrative staff.
• Plan for or coordinate office services, such as equipment or supply acquisition or organization, disposal of assets, relocation, parking, maintenance, or security services.
• Make recommendations to management concerning such issues as staffing decisions or procedural changes.
• Develop or update procedures, policies, or standards.
• Coordinate activities with other supervisory personnel or with other work units or departments.

Typical Daily Tasks of Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers:

• Working with Computers.
• Getting Information.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities. Provide information to coworkers. Report maintenance or equipment problems to appropriate personnel.
• Processing Information: Compile data or documentation.
• Analyzing Data or Information: Analyze financial information.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Maintain inventory records. Prepare research or technical reports. Record personnel information.
• Coaching and Developing Others.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Examine documents to verify adherence to requirements.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.

Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Skills and Requirements:

• Equipment Maintenance Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Management of Personnel Resources Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
• Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Persuasion Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Systems Analysis Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Troubleshooting Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Service Orientation Actively looking for ways to help people.
• SpreadsheetsUsing a computer application to enter, manipulate, and format text and numerical data; insert, delete, and manipulate cells, rows, and columns; and create and save worksheets, charts, and graphs.

Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Salary and Wages:

Average Salary: 58,450. Education: typical education requirements include High school diploma or equivalent.

Data from May 2023 courtesy of U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.