BUSINESS Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Administrative Services Managers

With a national median of $114,130 and +5.2% projected job growth through 2035, Administrative Services Managers offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.

About Administrative Services Managers

This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a administrative services managers: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Business Administration and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.


Median Wage
$114,130
Employed Nationally
264K
Openings / Year
22,000
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation

Also known as:

Administration Director Administrative Coordinator Administrative Director Administrative Manager Administrative Officer

How Much Do Administrative Services Managers Make?

Most administrative services managers take home around $114,130 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $86,460 and $157,420, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.

A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.

$114,130
National Median (Annual)

Well above average for college graduates.

$86K–$157K
Middle 50% Range

25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.


Earnings Range

The mean wage for this occupation is $129,870, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.

What Do Administrative Services Managers Do?

This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.

What You'll Do

  • Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
  • Set goals and deadlines for the department.
  • Acquire, distribute and store supplies.
  • Analyze internal processes and recommend and implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations, such as supply changes or the disposal of records.
  • Conduct classes to teach procedures to staff.

Core Skills Employers Look For

Time Management Reading Comprehension Active Listening Speaking Coordination

Who Thrives Here

E
Enterprising

Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.

C
Conventional

Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.

S
Social

Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.

Where Do Administrative Services Managers Work?

What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.

Work Setting
Mixed

Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.

Physical Demands
Light

Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.

Stress Level
Moderate

Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.

What Is the Job Outlook for Administrative Services Managers?

Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +5.2%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 22,000 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.

Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.

↗ +5.2%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)

About as fast as average.

22,000
Annual Openings

New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.

264K
Currently Employed

Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.

Where the Jobs Are

The five states below employ the most Administrative Services Managers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $114,130 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.

# State Jobs Median Wage vs. National
1 California 41,240 $108,890 -4.6%
2 Texas 22,980 $114,190 +0.1%
3 Florida 15,350 $94,850 -16.9%
4 New York 15,010 $142,280 +24.7%
5 Georgia 13,720 $108,250 -5.2%

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →

How to Get Here

To get hired here you will usually need a bachelor's degree. The 4 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.

The next most common path is a Health Administration program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.

Bachelor's degree
Zone 3: Medium Preparation

A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.


Degree Programs That Lead Here

# Program Graduates/yr 4yr Median Colleges
1 Business Administration 395,227 $68,257 2,611
2 Health Administration 85,302 $58,716 1,975
3 Business 57,204 $68,407 933
4 Veterinary Administrative 113 — 4

Top Colleges for Aspiring Administrative Services Managers

Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.

# College UCD Score Net Price Salary 10yr
1 United States Coast Guard Academy New London, CT 96 — —
2 United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO 96 — —
3 United States Military Academy West Point, NY 96 — —
4 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 93 $3,033 $75,971
5 University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 93 $12,548 $82,511
6 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 93 $12,470 $84,943

Plan Your Path

Once you've sized up Administrative Services Managers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.

Administrative Services Managers Pros & Cons

Strong earnings and growing demand make Administrative Services Managers a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.

PROS
  • Very high median salary The national median of $114,130 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
  • Steady job outlook The BLS projects +5.2% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
  • High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $157,420 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
  • Wide job market 264K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
  • Earnings and demand vary significantly by region National figures for Administrative Services Managers mask real geographic variation. High-demand metros can pay 20% or more above the national median while lower-cost or rural markets often fall well short. Where you work matters nearly as much as your credentials.

Administrative Services Managers Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Administrative Services Managers professionals earn?
Around $114,130 a year for the typical worker, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $86,460 and $157,420. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Administrative Services Managers a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. Median pay of $114,130 with +5.2% projected growth through 2035 is a combination most fields cannot match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $86,460, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How do I become an Administrative Services Managers?
Most Administrative Services Managers positions require a bachelor's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Business Administration are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Administrative Services Managers?
Employment is projected to change by +5.2% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 22,000 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 264K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Administrative Services Managers professionals earn so much?
At $114,130 median with a Zone 3 preparation level, Administrative Services Managers compensates well because specialized expertise creates high economic value per hour, and the role typically carries meaningful liability, decision-making responsibility, or direct revenue impact. Industries that depend on this skill set pay competitively to attract and retain people who are genuinely good at it.
Why do Administrative Services Managers salaries vary so widely?
The $70,960 gap between the 25th ($86,460) and 75th ($157,420) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Administrative Services Managers professionals need?
Mainly Time Management, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and Coordination. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.

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