What Are School Leaver Administration Jobs Likely to Pay?

Administration jobs are amongst the most common around, with millions of people all over the UK working in admin positions. From schools to large companies, administrators are in constant demand to meet the day-to-day needs of business, from processing applications and orders to managing office facilities and much more. As well as these crucial tasks, administration can be an excellent first step on the career ladder in a large company and is an excellent stepping stone into a more specialised position. Because administrators often work in close proximity to department managers and heads, it can be a good place to have your skills and hard work noticed.



Unfortunately, it has not all been good news for those in administrative positions in recent years. The economic downturn of the last three years has meant that many graduate opportunities have dried up, leaving a large quantity of university graduates and degree holders out of work with few places confirmed. This has meant greatly increased competition for general entry level jobs, particularly in admin. While many school leavers still stand a great chance of getting these positions, the increased demand for jobs in this sector has had the unfortunate effect of pushing down salaries, meaning that those on the bottom rung of the ladder will likely be paid less than they would have three or four years ago.

Typical salary expectations for an entry level administration job can vary considerably depending on experience and location. Those living in London can expect to be paid more but may well be worse off after the increased cost of living in the capital is taken into account. Those in temporary positions can expect to get only a little over the national minimum wage, recently increased to £6.08 per hour. Over the course of a full year, this equates to around £12,000 per year. Those in permanent roles can expect to be paid £13,000-14,000 per year. Those lucky enough to find their way into more specialised roles or who advance quickly can expect to receive salaries around £15,000-17,000 per annum.



It is worth noting that, depending on where you work and exactly what you do, it is often possible to advance quickly in admin jobs, helping you reach higher salary grades more quickly after your initial employment period. Mid-level admin positions are usually in the £18,000-£22,000 bracket, with some reaching as high as £25,000. Those working in more specialised roles, like those performing tasks in a foreign language, or in charge of the work of others, can anticipate being paid more to reflect the increased responsibility of their positions.



The author of this article is a part of a digital blogging team who work with brands like Hays. The content contained in this article is for information purposes only and should not be used to make any financial decisions.