CareerFacts

All careers › Administrative Services Managers

Business administrator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$114,130median pay per year, or $54.87 an hour, May 2025[2]
  1. $67,100lowest 10% earn less
  2. $86,46025th percentile
  3. $114,130median
  4. $157,42075th percentile
  5. $207,720top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Administrative services managers, a category where Business Administrator is a reported job title[1], had a median pay of $114,130 a year[2]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.2%[3]
Openings per year
22,000[6]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[7]

How much do business administrators make?

The official BLS category is Administrative Services Managers. O*NET lists Business Administrator among the job titles workers report in it[1]. The median pay was $114,130 a year, or $54.87 an hour[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[2]. The average was $129,870 a year[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[5].

Pay varies widely. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $67,100, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $86,460[4]. The top-paid 25% earned more than $157,420, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $207,720[4].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][10] $67,100 $32.26
25th percentile[4][10] $86,460 $41.57
Median[2] $114,130 $54.87
75th percentile[4][10] $157,420 $75.69
90th percentile[4][10] $207,720 $99.86

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[11].

Pay by state and city

Colorado had the highest state median at $157,000, followed by New Jersey at $144,460 and New York at $142,280[12]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO came first at $164,240, then Trenton-Princeton, NJ at $154,070 and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $149,990[13].

The states with the most jobs were California (41,240), Texas (22,980), Florida (15,350), New York (15,010) and Georgia (13,720)[14]. The metro areas with the most jobs were New York-Newark-Jersey City (18,450), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (13,310) and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell (9,000)[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Colorado[12]$157,0002,340
New Jersey$144,46010,910
New York$142,28015,010
Delaware$139,910720
Minnesota$137,2907,560
Virginia$130,8502,850
Washington$130,6303,490
Montana$129,670400
Rhode Island$128,980780
District of Columbia$128,6101,030
Tennessee$127,4108,170
New Hampshire$125,390760
South Carolina$124,320n/a
Utah$123,7001,670
Wyoming$120,510120
Connecticut$120,2003,180
Kansas$118,5701,150
Iowa$116,9201,380
Massachusetts$116,7109,130
Maryland$115,5504,320
Alabama$114,550860
Texas$114,19022,980
Oregon$113,2502,620
Indiana$112,9905,620
Hawaii$110,8401,560
California$108,89041,240
Wisconsin$108,4505,220
Georgia$108,25013,720
Michigan$108,2106,590
Illinois$106,86012,040
South Dakota$106,410450
Alaska$106,4001,020
Nebraska$105,7202,600
Pennsylvania$105,6404,880
North Carolina$105,6307,360
Maine$105,380n/a
New Mexico$104,790n/a
Oklahoma$104,6702,220
Ohio$101,5007,980
Arizona$101,1606,750
Louisiana$99,2103,260
Vermont$97,040430
Missouri$96,9204,220
Mississippi$96,0301,700
Nevada$95,7803,010
Florida$94,85015,350
North Dakota$94,320300
Idaho$92,880880
West Virginia$84,8201,890
Arkansas$84,4801,110

How to become a business administrator

The training details here come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of related occupations[16].

BLS lists no typical on-the-job training for this occupation[7]. In an ONET survey of 45 workers, 34% said a high school diploma was the required education, and 24% said a bachelor's degree[21]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation[22].

What business administrators do

They plan, direct or coordinate administrative services such as records management, mail distribution and other office support[23]. Typical tasks include:

The BLS profile names analytical, communication, detail-oriented and leadership skills as important[25][26][27][28].

Where they work

Managers in this group spend much of the day in an office. They may also walk the building, supervise outdoor grounds work or visit other facilities they direct[29]. Full-time work is typical, and some work more than 40 hours a week[30]. Facilities managers are often on call when problems come up[30]. Healthcare and social assistance was the largest employer, at 13%[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 279,000 to 293,300 jobs[3]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[32]. About 22,000 openings a year are projected, and they include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations[6]. Each year, 2.9% of workers leave the labor force and 4.2% move to another occupation[33].

The two job counts on this page measure different things. The 263,960 figure counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025[34]. The 279,000 figure is a projections count that includes self-employed workers[3]. About 1% were self-employed in 2025[35].

Is it a good fit?

The pay data show a median well above the all-occupation median, with a wide range from the lowest-paid to the highest-paid workers[2][4][5]. The typical path asks for a bachelor's degree and some related experience, though some people enter with a high school diploma[7][17]. Projected growth is a little above the all-occupation rate[3][32]. The work is a mix of office management, budgets, supplies and staff[24]. The facts here cannot say what a degree costs or how long it takes.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a business administrator make an hour?
The median hourly wage for Administrative Services Managers was $54.87[2]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $32.26 and the top-paid 10% earned more than $99.86[10].
What degree do you need to be a business administrator?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education[7]. Some people enter with a high school diploma[17].
Is business administrator a growing job?
BLS projects 5.2% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[3][32]. About 22,000 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for administrative services managers?
Colorado had the highest median at $157,000[12]. New Jersey was next at $144,460[12].

Facts and sources

  1. O*NET 11-3012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Administrative Coordinator, Administrative Director, Administrative Manager, Administrative Officer, Administrator, Business Administrator, Business Manager. O*NET OnLine
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Administrative Services Managers in the US was $114,130 per year and $54.87 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Administrative Services Managers is projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 279,000 to 293,300 jobs (a change of +14,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Administrative Services Managers: 10th percentile $67,100, 25th percentile $86,460, 75th percentile $157,420, 90th percentile $207,720. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 22,000 openings for Administrative Services Managers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Administrative Services Managers: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Administrative Services Managers was $129,870 per year and $62.44 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Administrative Services Managers: 10th percentile $32.26, 25th percentile $41.57, 75th percentile $75.69, 90th percentile $99.86. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Administrative Services Managers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Administrative Services Managers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $164,240; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $154,070; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $149,990; Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $146,600; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $144,520; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $137,820; Colorado Springs, CO $137,730; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $134,660. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Administrative Services Managers jobs: California 41,240; Texas 22,980; Florida 15,350; New York 15,010; Georgia 13,720. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Administrative Services Managers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 18,450 (median $149,990); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 13,310 (median $124,560); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 9,000 (median $113,230); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 8,600 (median $108,940); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 6,960 (median $120,670); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,160 (median $115,830). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Administrative Services and Facilities Managers" covers Administrative Services Managers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 11-3012.00 survey of workers (45 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 34%, Bachelor's Degree 24%, Some College Courses 13%, Post-Secondary Certificate 13%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 12% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET 11-3012.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Administrative Services Managers. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Administrative Services Managers. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of administrative services and facilities managers in 2025: Healthcare and social assistance 13%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Administrative Services Managers: 2.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 263,960 people were employed as Administrative Services Managers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. BLS Employment Projections: 1% of Administrative Services Managers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.