Office Support · Role definition
Operations assistant is one of the loosest titles in office hiring: the same posting can attract someone who has run a shipping desk and someone who has only booked meetings. Careerscape, a national recruiting firm with a remote team of function-focused recruiters, helps employers decide which version of the role they need and then screens candidates for that version.
Versions
Pick the group that matches most of the work. If your list spans all four, you may need two people or a more senior hire.
Talent pool
BLS counts operations assistants mostly as general office clerks, a very large occupation, so the metro figures below cover a much broader group than operations assistants alone.
| Market | Jobs | Median pay · vs. U.S. | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 136,580 | $47,670+6% | 0.91 |
| Los Angeles | 112,270 | $48,100+7% | 1.13 |
| Chicago | 66,840 | $46,330+3% | 0.93 |
| Miami | 61,160 | $44,730−1% | 1.37 |
| Dallas | 52,740 | $44,060−2% | 0.82 |
| Houston | 50,040 | $40,370−10% | 0.96 |
| Philadelphia | 45,660 | $47,060+5% | 0.99 |
| Atlanta | 40,710 | $43,330−4% | 0.89 |
| Washington, DC | 39,410 | $51,880+15% | 0.79 |
| San Francisco | 37,590 | $52,000+16% | 1.00 |
| Minneapolis | 35,610 | $48,790+8% | 1.15 |
| Detroit | 34,570 | $45,810+2% | 1.14 |
| Phoenix | 34,540 | $47,680+6% | 0.92 |
| Boston | 34,480 | $50,710+13% | 0.80 |
| San Diego | 28,470 | $49,920+11% | 1.17 |
| Seattle | 27,460 | $53,290+18% | 0.83 |
| Tampa | 23,680 | $45,680+1% | 1.03 |
| Pittsburgh | 19,150 | $45,040±0% | 1.08 |
| Nashville | 16,770 | $43,860−3% | 0.96 |
| Austin | 16,400 | $44,870±0% | 0.80 |
| Charlotte | 16,390 | $44,010−2% | 0.76 |
| Denver | 16,320 | $53,990+20% | 0.64 |
| Portland | 15,920 | $50,640+13% | 0.83 |
| Raleigh-Durham | 11,350 | $44,460−1% | 0.96 |
| Baltimore | 10,880 | $46,250+3% | 0.51 |
| Providence | 10,690 | $47,450+5% | 0.94 |
| Hartford | 8,350 | $48,170+7% | 0.88 |
| Albany | 6,860 | $46,010+2% | 0.96 |
| Buffalo | 6,230 | $46,040+2% | 0.74 |
Every metro we track has a sizable pool. New York City (136,580) and Los Angeles (112,270) are the largest. Miami has the highest concentration (1.37), followed by San Diego, Minneapolis and Detroit. Pay varies more than depth: Denver ($53,990) and Seattle ($53,290) have the highest medians, while Houston ($40,370) and Atlanta ($43,330) are the lowest. Baltimore (0.51) and Denver (0.64) are the least concentrated. Office Clerks, General, by metro area, sorted by jobs. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; U.S. median $45,010. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: above 1.0 means the job is a bigger share of local employment than nationally.
Template
Keep the responsibilities from one version above, cut the rest, and name your systems. A shorter, specific list attracts better-matched applicants than a long catch-all.
We are hiring an operations assistant to support [team] with [the main processes, such as orders, scheduling and invoicing]. You will keep daily work moving, track details others miss and report on what is open.
Pay
These national BLS wages are for general office clerks, the group that counts most operations assistants. Because the occupation is broad, use the percentiles to place your version of the job, not as an exact price.
Middle half of all workers (25th to 75th percentile)
The national median is $45,010. A business office version with light system work typically sits between the 25th percentile ($36,350) and the median. Logistics and finance versions that run an ERP or handle billing usually price nearer the 75th percentile ($54,300). If the role includes supervising clerks or owning vendor relationships, the 90th percentile ($64,680) is a more realistic marker. Annual pay, all U.S. employers, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), occupation: Office Clerks, General. BLS does not publish this title separately; the figures are for office clerks, general, the closest BLS occupation, which can include other job titles.
Credentials
No license is required to work as an operations assistant. These optional credentials show tested skills. Check the issuer for current rules before you rely on them.
| Credential | Issuer | Who it suits | Requirements and renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate (Microsoft 365 Apps) | Microsoft; exams scheduled through Certiport | Any version that lives in spreadsheets | One exam covering worksheets, data ranges, tables, formulas and charts; Microsoft lists a 60-month renewal frequency |
| Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) | IAAP, the International Association of Administrative Professionals | Experienced office or business operations staff | Two, three or four years of relevant work experience depending on degree, all within the past 10 years; 36 recertification points every three years |
CAP details come from IAAP's 2024 certification handbook and recertification page. Source: IAAP CAP Certification Handbook (2024).
Avoid
These problems show up after the start date. Most can be fixed in the posting.
A role that orders supplies, runs payroll, manages a website and dispatches crews will either go unfilled or go to someone who can do none of it well. Pick a version.
Ask what a candidate did in the ERP or CRM, such as entering orders, closing work orders or reconciling invoices. Two people who both list SAP may have done very different work.
If the job needs time on a warehouse floor or a job site, say so. Office-only candidates may decline once they learn the setting.
Operations assistants route problems. Name who they route to, or they will either sit on issues or make decisions above their role.
If the scope is wide, the national median is a floor, not a ceiling. Use the percentiles above to price the version you chose.
Request talent
Share the version of the role, your systems, the setting and whether you want temporary, contract-to-hire or direct hire help.
Looking for a job instead? Submit your resume or browse open jobs.
FAQ
An operations assistant keeps a team's daily processes running: processing orders or work orders, maintaining records and inventory, preparing invoices or shipping documents, keeping schedules and answering questions from vendors and customers. The mix depends on the business. In a warehouse office it leans toward shipping and inventory, and in a finance team toward billing and bookkeeping.
An administrative assistant usually supports people, managing calendars, correspondence and meetings. An operations assistant usually supports processes, such as orders, inventory, billing or crew schedules. The skills overlap, so read the duties, not the title, when screening resumes from either background.
Temporary staffing works well for a seasonal surge, a system rollout or covering leave. If the person needs to learn your vendors, customers and exceptions, contract-to-hire or direct hire is usually the better fit, since that knowledge takes time to build.
It can be. O*NET reports that many general office clerk jobs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent, and the work builds skills in business systems, vendors and reporting. Browse current openings or send us your resume. There is no charge to job seekers for working with Careerscape.
Careerscape recruiters who know office support can help you narrow the scope, then send a pre-screened shortlist to your Employer Portal.
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