Each person’s definition of the “best” job in the workforce depends on what he or she values most in a career, and office administration jobs are no different. Choosing the best office administration career entails finding one that offers the most of what you’re looking for in a job, whether that’s a large salary, health benefits, flexible hours, opportunity for growth, or a combination thereof.

For most people, a comfortable salary ranks high amongst the qualities they value in a job. Compared to other professions, office administration careers are not generally considered to be amongst the highest-paying jobs in the workforce. However, an office administration career that carries a high level of responsibility and is part of a high-paying corporation or government department will usually offer a higher salary and better benefits than other careers in office administration. For example, an office administration job within the federal or state government typically pays more and offers better benefits than an office admin job within the private sector. As well, large and reputable corporations usually pay higher salaries and offer better benefits than small or not-for-profit organizations.

In addition to salary and benefits, parents in particular often value flexible hours in a career, which could mean the opportunity to set their own hours, work from home, or occasionally leave the office for interim periods when family needs arise. The best office administration career for someone with these priorities would involve telecommuting or remote working. For example, an administrative position which involves a high volume of paperwork that could be taken home could be compared with a front-desk receptionist or customer service representative position. In addition, a position such as an executive assistant which entails working closely with one of the organization’s key decision-makers is more likely to offer flexible hours at the executive’s discretion.

For those who are interested in an office administration career where there is room to learn on the job and acquire new skills, a startup company with few employees is the best place to apply. Within startup companies, administrative positions often call for a jack-of-all-trades who can handle non-administrative responsibilities outside of the typical admin job description. As an administrator in a startup company gradually takes on more responsibilities and learns on the job, he or she can then apply those skills toward a promotion within the company, or carry them to another position outside of the organization.