Office managers can work in many different industries, as they are needed in most places of employment. If you are thinking about a career in office management, your job duties will reflect the office you work in. some industries offer better paying positions than others, but those higher salaries reflect more extensive job duties. You may want to explore some different industries to see if any are of interest to you. Here is a look at some of the office manager jobs you may come across as you search for the perfect place to work.
Salary Levels for Different Industries
Before you assess the options listed below, you may want to know what sort of money you could expect to make. Here are some of the most popular salary levels you may experience, courtesy of PayScale.com:
- Construction: $28,496 – $64,487
- Healthcare: $28,360 – $63,793
- Insurance: $28,812 – $63,240
- Manufacturing: $29,704 – $65,500
- Software Development: $27,966 – $64,711
The salary levels do not vary much by industry, but office manager jobs in manufacturing tend to pay the most money. You will have to see what sort of pay rates you could get once you start looking for a job.
Office Manager Jobs in Healthcare
Office manager jobs in healthcare can usually be found in doctor offices, clinics, and hospitals. To work in this industry, you may want to have a minor in medical assisting, billing/coding, or something else related to healthcare. For this position, you will most likely be responsible for managing patient charts, organizing medical files, assigning patients to specific healthcare workers, delegating work schedules, and overseeing general office operations. You may be asked to work directly with healthcare patients, or you may just work behind the scenes. Office managers in this job sector typically make a lot of money, but they must make swift decisions and work long hours. Hospital work is not for everyone, as it can be highly stressful. Nevertheless, it may be the perfect position for you.
Office Manager Jobs in Real Estate
Realtors almost always need office managers to keep their firms running smoothly. In this line of work, you may take on more clerical tasks than you would in other industries. You will likely be responsible for sending work orders to maintenance workers, answering phone calls, showing property, collecting rent, posting real estate ads, conducting background checks, signing up new renters, and gathering buyer/renter applications. Real estate office managers have some of the most complex and stressful jobs around, but they are in high demand at the moment. If you would like to work in this job sector, you may want to take some real estate courses while you’re in college.
Office Manager Jobs in Construction
The construction field is somewhat at a standstill at the moment, but there are still construction projects in some areas of the country. Those businesses that are still doing well need office managers to keep track of the work flow coming into the office. If you decide to work in construction, your job duties may include ordering materials, scheduling consultations, answering phone calls, recruiting independent contractors, and hiring other office workers. You may want to have some knowledge about the construction industry before you apply for a job like this, as you will have to know about specific processes that go on with construction projects. This position is not in high demand at the moment, so you must do whatever it takes to make yourself stand out from the competition.
Office Manager Jobs in Educational Institutions
Many schools, colleges, and universities need office managers to oversee different branches of their institutions. For example, a college in your area may be in need of an office manager for the business branch of their school. If you enjoy working around education, this may be a good place to seek employment. To do this though, you will need to have a college degree in business administration. Educational institutions usually do not higher applicants without college degrees. If you do have a degree like this though, you should have an array of job opportunities in store for you.
Choosing the Job for You
With the range of office manager jobs in the world, you have to figure out which industry suits your likes and financial needs. If you enjoy architecture and contracting, you may look for a job in construction. If you prefer working with hospital patients, you may want a job in healthcare. There are plenty of industries to choose from, so take the time to figure out which one suits your needs. You could be on your way to a successful career in no time.
