Companies seek administrative and customer support candidates with strong technology skills who can use emerging tools like AI to improve customer service, streamline routine tasks and automate reporting that aids decision making throughout the business. Managers are also upskilling workers, hiring additional permanent staff and engaging contract professionals to help close skills gaps.Talent shortages and added responsibilities, among other factors, are contributing to pockets of higher compensation increases. Offering competitive benefits and, especially, work flexibility also helps organizations attract skilled talent.
Salary and Hiring Trends in Administrative and Customer Support
Hiring outlook, challenges
Competition is strong for administrative and executive assistants. Companies also need data entry professionals to help with technology migrations and systems updates. In customer support, employers seek tech-savvy professionals who can use AI, chatbots and other advanced technologies to meet the evolving needs of customers.
How much should I pay or earn?
Meeting candidate salary expectationsMeeting candidate salary expectationsAttracting skilled talentAttracting skilled talentFinding candidates who align with the company cultureFinding candidates who align with the company cultureHiring fast enough to land top talentHiring fast enough to land top talent
Salaries are stabilizing, but candidates with in-demand experience can see significant jumps. For jobs that can be done remotely, 59% of managers are willing to increase starting salaries for new hires to work in the office full or part time. Of those, 59% are offering workers up to 20% more pay to come in 4 to 5 days per week. of administrative and customer support professionals want to work in the office 3 days a week or less.of administrative and customer support professionals want to work in the office 3 days a week or less.
Customer experienceLeadership experienceProject managementAI and automationCustomer experienceLeadership experienceProject managementAI and automation
Upskilling employeesReskilling employees for new rolesPaying for professional certificationsEngaging skilled contract talentUsing managed servicesImplementing mentoring programsUpskilling employeesReskilling employees for new rolesPaying for professional certificationsEngaging skilled contract talentUsing managed servicesImplementing mentoring programs
The hottest administrative and customer support jobs, skills and industries
The salary benchmarks listed in the Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process to ensure our projections accurately reflect the marketplace. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has matched with employers across the country and third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use to independently validate the salary ranges. Learn more about 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. Company size, industry and the availability of remote work options can influence salaries. 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.Non-salary data referenced in this Salary Guide is based on online surveys developed by Robert Half and conducted by independent research firms. Respondents include hiring managers and workers from small (1-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000-plus employees) private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across the United States.
