Administrative Directors: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of administrative directors about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for administrative directors to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of administrative directors expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for administrative directors.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Administrative Directors?

Do administrative directors need a degree? What kind of experience do administrative directors typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for administrative directors to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Administrative Directors

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of administrative directors. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 38% of positions. In 30% of job listings no education level was listed and in 19% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Administrative Directors

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for administrative directors. In 43% of job postings for Administrative Directors, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 31% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 14% of job postings for administrative directors.

What Kind of Degree Do Administrative Directors Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for administrative directors, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 18 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective administrative directors, and in 2023 a total of 175,106 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective administrative directors.

Top Degree Programs for Administrative Directors

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Administrative Directors

What Skills Do Administrative Directors Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by administrative directors to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for administrative directors, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Administrative Directors
Based on 25,723 job postings

Based on 25,723 job postings related to administrative directors, office management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 37% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for accounting, billing, accounts receivable, accounts payable and finance were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for administrative directors, followed by management, operations, leadership, customer service and detail oriented.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about administrative directors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for administrative directors.

What do administrative directors do?
How much do administrative directors make?

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