2024 Administrative and Customer Service Salaries and Hiring Trends

Companies place a premium on administrative and customer support professionals adept at streamlining tasks and handling a wider variety of projects. Businesses rely on administrative assistants more often to help teams adopt new software and internal systems, while call center professionals are vital to customer retention.

The tech layoffs of 2022-23 rippled across this field, too, with support staff included in workforce reduction plans. But many who were affected quickly found jobs at other companies.

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Hiring Trends in Administrative and Customer Support

Still a candidate-friendly hiring market

Companies increasingly depend on the expertise of administrative and customer support staff. There’s high demand for professionals in both fields, and the hiring market is tough: 88% of managers face challenges finding skilled talent. To avoid missing out on securing top candidates, employers need to accelerate their hiring process and offer competitive salaries.

Increase starting
salaries Add new benefits
and perks Offer remote and
hybrid work
options Recruit outside
the firm's
geographic area Increase starting
salaries Add new benefits
and perks Offer remote and
hybrid work
options Recruit outside
the firm's
geographic area

Customer experience Customer experience

Project and program management Project and program management

Microsoft 365 Microsoft 365

Social media Social media

While many administrative positions have shifted to hybrid or fully in-office arrangements, data entry and customer support are examples of roles that can often remain remote. That kind of flexibility is an asset for firms competing for skilled talent. 60% of job candidates say they would be more likely to apply for a role if it allowed a remote option.

of managers say they’ve lost a strong job candidate because remote work wasn’t allowed. of managers say they’ve lost a strong job candidate because remote work wasn’t allowed.

Customer experience is king

Companies are expanding customer support teams and using digital tools to enrich the customer experience. There is high demand for candidates who can improve service levels, supervise remote call center teams and manage customer support. Multilingual employees are also widely needed.

Companies bridge staffing gaps with contract talent

57% of managers say they plan to engage more contract professionals to help them address staffing and skill gaps. This variable talent model allows employers to scale up and down as needed and lets contract professionals explore what it’s like working at different firms. It also allows managers and workers to consider whether they would want the contract role converted to a permanent position.

Customer service/
call centers Administrative roles Office services Data entry Customer service
/call centers Administrative roles Office services Data entry

Hottest jobs

Administrative assistant

Customer service specialist

Executive assistant

Office manager

In-demand accreditations and skills

Certified administrative professional (CAP)

Certified customer service professional (CCSP)

Direct contact service professional (DCSP)

Microsoft 365

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How do we determine our salary figures? See our methodology.

The salaries listed in the salary tables represent starting compensation only, meaning pay for someone new to a company in the position listed. Our estimates do not include bonuses, benefits or perks. We report salaries in percentiles and ranges, recognizing that professionals join companies at varied experience levels.

Other data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents included hiring managers and employees from small (less than $50 million in revenues), midsize ($50 million to $1 billion) and large ($1 billion or greater) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across the United States.

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