Any admins out there?

ASmallWonder · October 2010

I'm hoping to pick some brains. Admin jobs seem to vary so greatly in what they pay and the difference is even more pronounced if you factor in Executive Admin jobs. How the heck do you job hunt with such a major variance in what they could offer you?

I know there's always the risk that a job will offer you less than what you hoped but seriously, the jobs that do post their rates sometimes offer $10 an hour and some are $70k a year. I can't take time to interview at places that are at the bottom end but salary doesn't come up until after the interview process.

What to do?

punkfiction_v.3 · October 2010

you need to look for openings on corporate sites.

some people are "secretaries" and called admins.

some answer phones and are admins.

some are the actual brains behind the CEO and are called admins. so read what the job entails first.

missdanib · October 2010

UGH, welcome to my world! I usually look at the job duties and the industry and that will give you a gauge you can go by. For instance, supporting an executive at a Fortune 500 company is going to pay much higher than an admin for say a small real esate office. This is not to say that there aren't exceptions to the rule, but that is a pretty general guideline.

You could always aske when they call you for an interview too. I know you are never supposed to discuss salary in the inital interview, but you could say something like "As you can see on my resume I have x number years experience supporting top level execs and have been compensated accordingly. Could you let me know if the salary for this position is in line with what I have been making?". Most hiring managers don't want to waste their time either, so it can't hurt to be upfront and honest.

ABColeslaw · October 2010

Seriously? 10 and hour? Phill....tiny little C-L Designs, pays his admin $15 an hour.

This is the same with teaching, you aren't allowed to look at the contract until its job offer time. So you have no way of knowing what you're going to make. I made 37 at Saugus, the same position same pay step at Westford was 49.

kayteatrudeau · October 2010

I was an Admin and Executive Assistant for over 13 years when I lived in Canada. Salaries started around $36,000 and my last was $45,000.

Then I moved to the USA and found out that for my qualifications I should look at a base salary of $40,000 and upwards.

Go through an employment agency that the employer (not you) pays to register. I have always landed good jobs with very good pay. They tell you the rate of pay and benefits before they send your resume. And always tell the employer (if you know you got short listed) that you have other offers...this ups the pay.

I'm currently in the same search myself. I was going to stay home and do child car but were not sure we can get paid enough so I'm applying for state jobs that have 100% benefits (in Admin) so we can shave off the $540 a month DH gets deducted from his pay monthly.

If this gives you any idea of my pay (associated with skill level) I have three associate degrees in marketing management, a two year business degree in office management, I tested 97+ on all Microsoft office applications, do web design/desktop publishing and type 72 wpm with 100% accuracy. In my last few roles I worked along with the Predisent of CEO's of companies rather then below. My job was much more then shuffling paper.

punkfiction_v.3 · October 2010

kayteatrudeau:
and type 72 wpn with 100% accuracy.

best typo ever.

prego760 · October 2010

I work for a local government and we have over 500 employees. I am an Admin and actually manage people. Right now we are on a salary hold so we havent had any increases in a few years. I started at $18 and now am up to $23 an hour. I dont think thats bad working for a local government.