Business administration is a broad field that encompasses many different roles, skills, and responsibilities. Business Administrators in particular are some of the most valued professionals in any organization because they help move the business along without issue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that most business professionals make roughly $79,000 each year and has shown that the field is advancing at a rapid rate as well. Before applying for positions, it is important to consider factors such as the local job market, your location, and the specific industry you are curious about entering. For instance, while positions in major cities might offer higher salaries, the cost of living is also considerably higher. Therefore, you will want to weigh your options accordingly. Plus, you may want to focus on different ways to enhance your career prospects, such as whether you want to gain more certificates and certifications, gain more hands-on experience, or seek out new ways to professionally support yourself. Investing in your professional life through networking, continuous learning, training, and skill improvement can lead to a higher earning potential in the long run.

What is a Business Administrator?

A Business Administrator is a business professional who is tasked with managing and optimizing various aspects of an organization to ensure smooth operations and success. This role requires a blend of skills ranging from financial management and project management to communication and adaptability. In this position, a Business Administrator will often monitor projects to achieve certain objectives. For instance, they will often promote products through different marketing techniques and manage resources to help develop the project in less time and with maximum efficiency. 

Moreover, Business Administrators work in all kinds of industries, including healthcare, finance, retail, technology, education, and tourism. They are also hired in different departments across the organization, so they are virtually everywhere. This career path is highly desirable and requires learning several skills that are preferable to Hiring Managers. Mostly, companies look for Business Administrators who can use tools like Microsoft Project or Trello. They may also prefer candidates who are familiar with Agile and Waterfall methodologies. All in all, the skills you’ll acquire will directly impact the organization’s ability to manage their projects and reach their goals.

An average work week for a Business Administrator may differ based on what’s going on in the organization. Typically, they’ll complete a variety of tasks aimed at monitoring project success, improving organizational processes, and increasing profits. Business Administrators may also handle finances by compiling reports, allocating resources, and budgeting for new projects. They will also plan projects, make sure everyone stays on task, and meet with teams and department leaders to confirm with them that the project is running smoothly. Additionally, they will handle staff duties like conducting and planning meetings, resolving employee concerns, and preparing for the next day.

What Affects Your Pay as a Business Administrator

Your salary as a Business Administrator will vary based on several key factors. Your level of education, years of experience, the industry in which you work, your location, and specialization will likely be significant in determining your pay as a Business Administrator.

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Education

Your level of education will influence your salary expectations as a Business Administrator. While Business Administrators typically earn competitive salaries, those with more advanced degrees or specialized certifications may have access to higher-paying positions. If you pursue a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, you may have more options to explore entry-level roles. However, this is not the only way to get your business administration career started. If you complete training programs and earn certificates from a reputable training center, you will increase your chances of finding a meaningful job. Overall, having a solid foundation and relevant skills will help you become a satisfied, financially stable career in business administration.

Experience

Your level of experience may also determine your salary. If you are fresh out of your training, you can expect to land more entry-level jobs as opposed to those who have years of built-up experience. If you work your way up through consistent performance and skill development, you will ultimately improve over time and, therefore, have higher-paying job opportunities. You can gain relevant, hands-on experience through workshops, internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training. Moreover, short courses and bootcamps can help you advance your skills and become a more effective business administration professional. Additionally, freelance work is a great way to increase your experience and therefore land a higher-paying job.

Industry

Business Administrators are needed in all industries and organizations of all kinds. As such, the industry you choose to work in and the company you work for will likely determine your salary expectations as well. For example, major corporations tend to pay more than small businesses. Likewise, a large tech firm will likely pay more than a small nonprofit. This may differ, but is typically the standard. Additionally, if you work as a freelancer, you have several advantages. First, freelancers set their own rates, which can lead to higher-paid opportunities. However, freelancers will work primarily with small to medium-sized businesses and nonprofits, so they will likely need to accommodate to fit those budgets. Those who can find freelance work with a larger company may not have to adjust their rates at all, but it mainly depends on the company and their budget.

Location

Where you live will affect your pay, so one of the best practices is to take note of the salary expectations based on where you live or where you plan to live. Since major metropolitan areas like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago offer more business administration jobs with higher salaries, many choose to move to find these high-paying jobs. This is mainly due to the sheer amount of companies in the area, so there is clearly an increased need. The increase in pay draws more potential Business Administrators into the area, but it will be necessary to weigh the cost of living in comparison to the salary you will earn. Cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are far more expensive than cities such as Houston, Seattle, or Miami. If you factor in the cost of housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, and other expenses, one job may be more worthwhile to pursue than the other.

Specialization

Business administration is a larger field that encompasses a wide range of studies and subjects. When you begin your business administration career, you may have an idea of which specialization to pursue. If you have a knack for marketing and feel that it’s easy to connect with an intended audience, Marketing Manager may be the role for you. On the other hand, if you are a strong leader and can juggle multiple tasks at once, you may be well-suited as a Project Manager. Regardless, your specialization can largely determine your salary expectations. For example, a Business Analyst may earn more than a Marketing Manager, or a Project Manager may earn more than a Human Resources Specialist. It all depends on the company, location, and the level of experience you have, but the specialization does play a role in your yearly salary.

Pay Range for Business Administrators

Glassdoor states that the estimated total pay for a Business Administrator is $77,000 with an average salary of $66,000 each year. Indeed provides an incredibly similar report with some slight differences. Regardless, both websites indicate that there is a broad pay range which may depend on factors such as location, experience, and education level. The salary expectations can range from $51,000 to $85,000 but there are also opportunities for additional pay throughout the year, such as bonuses, tips, commission, or profit sharing. However, a cursory glance at either one of these websites will prove that some Business Administrators can earn far above the expected pay range. For instance, companies like Microsoft and NASA Laboratory offer their Business Administrators a median salary of $104,000 and $94,000 respectively. This means that the business administration field has ample room for growth and development, so the sky is truly the limit.

Highest-Earning Job Titles for Business Administrators

When searching for a business administration job, you are likely curious how far you can advance in the field. There are a few job titles for Business Administrators that are considered the highest-earning jobs, so consider which one you want to aspire to someday. For example, a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is one of the highest-paid employees in an organization as they are responsible for handling major corporate decisions that can affect the company on a large scale. Similarly, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is the head of all financial processes, which includes planning, managing, and reporting on the financial changes in the organization. You can also work towards becoming a Senior Project Manager, who is tasked with leading and handling multiple projects at once. As such, they typically earn a higher salary than a lower-level Project Manager.

Learn the Skills to Become a Business Administrator at Noble Desktop

If you want to learn essential skills that will help you become a Business Administrator, Noble Desktop has numerous programs, bootcamps, and classes to help you prepare yourself accordingly. For example, the 132-hour “MBA” Business Certificate program gives you insight into all the necessary tools and concepts to help you excel in the business world. You’ll build strong project management skills and learn how to handle financial reports, accounts, and other budgeting concerns. Moreover, you will learn to develop marketing strategies that help connect the business with consumers and improve visibility, engagement, and profits. The instructor will even show you how to leverage generative AI to become a more productive workplace. Overall, you’ll gain a basic understanding of daily business operations and take your business acumen to the next level. By the end, you will feel confident enough to work in a business setting and benefit from a plethora of resources such as a free retake, additional mentoring sessions, and a digital certificate of completion.

Throughout the ChatGPT and AI for Business Bootcamp, students will learn how to use generative AI and ChatGPT to improve business operations and make otherwise menial or time-consuming tasks much easier. As a student in this bootcamp, your instructor will guide you through real-world applications of ChatGPT such as task automation, project management, and data analysis. You will also learn how to use ChatGPT to improve your communication and write prompts that generate the most meaningful and useful responses. Through completing hands-on projects and reviewing real-life case studies, you will see all the different ways AI can be used in a business setting. After 12 hours of instruction, you will feel confident using generative AI and will earn a certificate of completion.

If you want to sharpen your writing skills, the six-hour Advanced Business Writing class will help you do just that. You will prepare complex business documents and feel more confident communicating different concepts to others. Through an easy-to-follow four-step process, your instructor will teach you how to write out schedules, proposals, project plans, and contracts. Likewise, you will learn how to outline and format different business documents as each will have different requirements. You should complete the Effective Business Writing course or have equivalent knowledge before enrolling in this course, as it is an advanced-level class. Once you complete the course, you’ll be able to retake it for free within one year and will earn a certificate.