At a glance
Pay shows the low (10th percentile) to high (90th percentile) Canada-wide wages for Administrative officers, from Job Bank (2023–2024), as yearly amounts for full-time work. Pay varies by province, city and experience. See wages in your area on Job Bank
What you'll do
- Manage the office, equipment, supplies and building or landlord relationships
- Coordinate onboarding and offboarding, including paperwork and equipment
- Process invoices and expenses and track the office budget
- Plan meetings, team events and travel
- Keep company policies, records and contracts organized and up to date
How to get there
- Start as an administrative assistant or receptionist and learn how an office runs.
- An office administration or business diploma from a Canadian college is a common route.
- Take on budgeting, supplier management and onboarding tasks to grow into the manager role.
Your bilingual advantage
Speaking two languages makes you stand out in Office Manager jobs. Here's where it helps most and how to prove it.
Where bilingual skills are in demand
- Quebec, where French is the language of work and English or other languages often help with clients outside the province
- New Brunswick, Canada's only officially bilingual province
- Ottawa–Gatineau and the federal public service, where many positions are designated bilingual
- National companies serving customers across Canada, and employers serving newcomer communities in other languages
Prove your level
Employers trust a recognized result more than "fluent". For French, common tests include the DELF and DALF diplomas and the TEF and TCF tests. Federal public service jobs use their own Second Language Evaluation (levels A, B and C). Describe your level for speaking, reading and writing separately.
Expect part of the interview in each language
Bilingual employers often switch languages during the interview or give a short written task. Practise answering the questions on this page in both languages.
What employers look for
Usually required
- 3+ years in office administration or a similar role
- Strong organization and the ability to juggle many requests
- Experience with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
- Basic bookkeeping or budgeting experience
- A friendly, professional manner with staff and visitors
Gives you an edge
- Experience with HR or payroll software
- French, if you serve clients in Quebec or New Brunswick
How to stand out
List the tools you know well, such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and bookkeeping software.
Give examples of processes you set up or money you saved.
Bilingual English and French candidates stand out, especially in Ottawa, Montreal and New Brunswick.
See a full Bilingual Office Manager résumé example, or get our Bilingual Resume Template.
Interview questions to prepare for
Employers hiring for this job often ask questions like these. Prepare a short, specific example for each.
- Tell me about a time you had five urgent requests at once. How did you decide what to do first?
- How have you kept an office budget on track?
- Describe a process you set up that made the office run better.
- How would you handle a supplier who keeps missing deliveries?
- What would you want to know about our team in your first week?
Where it can lead
Your rights and tips as a job seeker in Canada
Know the pay before you apply
In British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, public job postings must include the pay or pay range. In Ontario, so must postings from employers with 25 or more employees made since January 1, 2026. Use the pay on this page to judge whether an offer is fair.
New to Canada?
In Ontario, employers with 25 or more employees can't ask for Canadian experience in a job posting or application form. For regulated jobs, such as engineering, teaching or a skilled trade, contact the provincial regulator early to have your credentials assessed.
You're protected from discrimination
Human rights laws mean employers can't make hiring decisions based on your age, sex, gender identity, race, religion, disability, or family or marital status. You can ask for accommodation during the hiring process, for example for an interview.
Hear back after interviews
In Ontario, employers with 25 or more employees must tell you within 45 days of your last interview whether a hiring decision has been made for a publicly advertised job.
Never pay to get a job
Real employers don't charge you to apply, to be trained or to be hired, and they don't ask for banking details before an offer. Only share your Social Insurance Number (SIN) after you're hired. Stay safe from job scams
Starting out young?
Each province sets its own minimum working age and limits on hours for young workers. See the rules by province
General information, checked on October 3, 2026. It isn't legal advice; rules depend on your province or territory.
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