How to become an office manager
Official title: Office managers
Also called: Manager, Admin manager, Court manager, Branch manager, Office manager, Typing manager, Booking manager, Records manager, District manager, Document manager, Mailroom manager, Practice manager
Office managers plan, organise and co-ordinate the activities and resources of offices within commercial, industrial and other non-governmental organisations and public agencies. (National and local government office managers are classified to unit group 3561: Public services associate professionals.)
Main tasks
- Plans work schedules, assigns tasks and delegates responsibilities
- Advises on the handling of all correspondence and enquiries relating to accounts, sales, statistical and vacancy records
- Ensures that procedures for considering, issuing, amending and endorsing insurance policies are adhered to
- Plans, organises and co-ordinates the activities and resources of other offices not elsewhere classified including box offices, other ticket offices and accommodation bureaux
How to become one
Some employers may require A-level or equivalent qualifications, although entry will usually be possible with GCSEs/S grades, other academic qualifications and/or relevant experience. Professional qualifications are available in some areas of work.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £38,630 a year The middle half earn £31,205 to £50,494.
- About 228,400 people work in this job now, and about 216,900 are projected by 2035. (-5%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become an office manager?
Some employers may require A-level or equivalent qualifications, although entry will usually be possible with GCSEs/S grades, other academic qualifications and/or relevant experience. Professional qualifications are available in some areas of work.
How much does an office manager earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £38,630 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £31,205 to £50,494.
Is an office manager a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 5% by 2035, from about 228,400 to about 216,900 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become an office manager?
Not always. 34% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03