Career comparison
Administrative Services Manager vs. Office Manager
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Administrative services managers earn more at the median ($114,130 vs. $69,500), while office managers usually get to work faster (3–5 years of administrative experience of training). Administrative services managers run the support services that keep an office working. Office managers run an office’s daily operations, staff and systems so everyone else can do their jobs.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Administrative Services Manager | Office Manager | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $114,130 ($54.87/hr) | $69,500 ($33.41/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $67,100 – $207,720 | $45,610 – $104,710 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.2% (faster than average) | +0.1% (little or no change) |
| Openings per year | 22,000 | 127,400 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Several years of experience | 3–5 years of administrative experience |
| Key credential | Certified Administrative Professional | Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) |
| Work setting | Managers work in offices across every industry.. | Office managers work in offices of every kind, from medical practices and law firms to construction companies and nonprofits. |
What each job does
Administrative Services Manager
- Supervise administrative staff
- Manage records and documents
- Oversee mail and supplies
- Manage vendor contracts
- Set office policies
Office Manager
- Supervise administrative and front office staff
- Manage office budgets and expenses
- Negotiate with and manage vendors
- Order supplies and manage inventory
- Coordinate facilities, maintenance and IT support
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, desk work, teamwork, and high responsibility. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose administrative services manager if…
- I’m very organized
- I like solving everyday problems
- I enjoy managing people
Choose office manager if…
- I like making things run smoothly
- I’m comfortable leading people
- I can handle constant interruptions
Still torn? Take the Administrative Services Manager fit quiz and the Office Manager fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, administrative services manager or office manager?
Administrative Services Managers earn more at the median: $114,130 versus $69,500 for office managers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Office Managers typically train faster (3–5 years of administrative experience) than administrative services managers (Several years of experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects administrative services managers to grow +5.2% from 2025–35, compared with +0.1% for office managers.