An office assistant handles a wide range of clerical tasks in an office setting. They typically handle the incoming and outgoing mail, maintain the office inventory records and order new supplies as needed, handle incoming phone calls, and schedule meetings and appointments for management. They must be organized, reliable, and have good attention to detail. Familiarity with computer software, such as MS Office and ERP, is essential. Office assistants must have good communication skills as they interact with management, office staff, vendors, and customers.
A good understanding of office management procedures and superior time management skills are a necessity for this role. Office assistants also need to have good problem-solving skills and a friendly personality. They may have to troubleshoot issues with office equipment such as printers and copiers and fix the problems or contact help. Some office assistants attend meetings where they take minutes and distribute them to all parties after the meeting.
Sample job description
Average salary and compensation
The average salary for an office assistant per year is $43,600 or an equivalent hourly rate of $21 in the United States, with an average bonus of $800 per year. Salary may depend on the level of experience, education, and geographical location.
| Location | Salary Low | Salary High |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, Arizona | $45,900 | $56,100 |
| Los Angeles, California | $51,750 | $63,300 |
| Denver, Colorado | $43,150 | $52,750 |
| Washington, DC | $52,550 | $64,250 |
| Miami, Florida | $42,950 | $52,500 |
| Orlando, Florida | $39,600 | $48,400 |
| Tampa, Florida | $40,000 | $48,900 |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $41,950 | $51,300 |
| Chicago, Illinois | $48,250 | $58,950 |
| Boston, Massachusetts | $52,150 | $63,750 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota | $41,550 | $50,850 |
| New York City, New York | $54,900 | $67,100 |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $44,700 | $54,650 |
| Dallas, Texas | $43,550 | $53,200 |
| Houston, Texas | $43,350 | $52,950 |
| Seattle, Washington | $50,200 | $61,350 |
| National Average | $39,200 | $47,950 |
Sample interview questions
- Why do you want to be an office assistant?
- What do you know about being an office assistant?
- How good are you at communicating with people, especially strangers?
- What interests you about working in our company?
- What are your unique qualifications?
- How quickly can you learn new software?
- Can you share your experience as an office assistant?
- What are your greatest strengths?
- How will your greatest strengths help you as an office assistant?
- How many years of experience do you have?
- What tools are you familiar with that can help you in the position of an office assistant?
- How will your administrative skills contribute to our team?
- Describe a time you received negative criticism you’ve gotten from your experience as an office assistant. How did you handle it?
- Why did you leave your previous job?
