Office & Administrative Jobs in Chicago, IL

Office and administrative support is the largest occupational group in the Chicago metro, roughly one job in nine, from Loop law firms and trading houses to the hospitals of Streeterville and Hyde Park. The guides below cover every office and administrative role in Chicago, who is hiring and what it pays.

Why Office Work Is Different in Chicago

Few American cities have as deep a bench of office employers. World Business Chicago counts 30 Fortune 500 headquarters in the region, second only to New York, and no single industry makes up more than 13 percent of the regional economy. That spread is what makes admin careers here resilient: the same skills that land a job at a derivatives exchange on Wacker Drive transfer to a law firm in River North, an insurer in the Loop, a university department in Hyde Park or a hospital system in the Illinois Medical District. Federal wage data for May 2025 puts office and administrative support at about 10.8 percent of all metro jobs, the biggest occupational group in Chicagoland.

The market has its own local rules. The Chicago minimum wage is $17.05 an hour for employers with four or more workers, which lifts entry pay for receptionists and clerks inside city limits above the state's $15.00. Since January 2025, Illinois has required employers with 15 or more workers to show the pay scale and benefits in job postings, so you can compare offers up front. And competition is real: the city's unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in July 2026, above the Illinois rate of 4.6 percent, which means polished resumes and strong Microsoft Office skills matter. Most downtown office jobs are a CTA or Metra commute, and many corporate roles are now hybrid.

Top Office & Administrative Employers in Chicago

These employers have posted office and administrative roles in Chicago on their own careers sites:

• Kirkland & Ellis - the global law firm hires administrative assistants, practice support staff and event specialists for its Chicago office.
• University of Chicago - posts administrative and executive assistant roles across its Hyde Park campus and divisions.
• Northwestern Medicine - hires patient service representatives for front desks at its Chicago clinics.
• Lurie Children's Hospital - the Streeterville pediatric hospital hires administrative assistants and patient access staff.
• CME Group - the derivatives exchange hires executive assistants at 20 S. Wacker Drive in the Loop.
• United Airlines - the Chicago-headquartered airline posts executive assistant roles for its corporate teams.
• Plante Moran - the accounting and advisory firm hires administrative assistants for its Chicago practice.

Office & Administrative Career Paths in Chicago

• Front desk and first contact - Receptionist and Front Desk Coordinator. The usual first job, in clinic check-in, corporate lobbies and dealerships, and the easiest way into a large employer.
• Administrative support - Administrative Assistant, Administrative Coordinator and Office Clerk. The core of the field, supporting teams and departments at firms, universities and hospitals.
• Executive support and office leadership - Executive Assistant and Office Manager. The better-paid tier, supporting senior leaders or running a whole office, usually after several years in support roles.
• Records and data - Data Entry Clerk and Records Specialist. Detail-focused roles in billing, medical records, legal files and back-office operations.

How to Start an Office & Administrative Career in Chicago

• No state license - Illinois does not license receptionists, administrative assistants, executive assistants or office clerks, so there is no state exam to pass.
• Oakton College Administrative Assistant Certificate - 18 credits at the Des Plaines and Skokie campuses, with online options and preparation for Microsoft Office certification.
• Harper College Office Assistant and Administrative Assistant Certificates - a two-step sequence at the Palatine campus; the Administrative Assistant Certificate is 17 credit hours.
• City Colleges of Chicago Paralegal AAS - at Harold Washington College in the Loop and at Wright College, for anyone aiming at law firm support work.
• Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership - its American Job Centers help with job search and can connect eligible residents to funded training.

None of these credentials is legally required; they are employer preference, and a high school diploma, strong Microsoft Office skills and a professional manner are enough to start at most Chicago employers.

Office & Administrative Salaries in Chicago

• Entry - about $17.05 to $20 an hour for receptionists, front desk staff and clerks inside the city, where the minimum wage sets the floor; the metro receptionist median is $18.30.
• Mid - about $24 to $30 an hour, or $50,000 to $63,000 a year, for experienced administrative assistants and coordinators; the metro median is $24.25.
• Senior - about $73,000 to $107,000 a year and up for executive assistants, where the metro median is $77,770, with C-suite roles paying more.

These are estimates based on May 2025 federal wage data for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro, checked against current Chicago postings. Law firms, trading firms, banks and corporate headquarters in the Loop pay the most, and many add bonuses. Universities and hospital systems often pay a little less in salary but offer strong health benefits, retirement plans and tuition help, which makes them attractive long-term employers. Suburban offices usually pay slightly less than downtown.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do office and administrative jobs pay in Chicago?

It depends on the role. Receptionists in the Chicago metro earn a median of $18.30 an hour, administrative assistants $24.25 and executive assistants $37.39, based on May 2025 federal data. Inside city limits, most employers must pay at least $17.05 an hour.

Do you need a license for administrative jobs in Illinois?

No. Illinois does not license general office and administrative roles. Employers hire on skills and experience, and a community college certificate or Microsoft Office certification is a plus rather than a requirement.

Where are most office jobs in Chicago?

The largest concentration is downtown in the Loop, River North and the West Loop, where law firms, banks, exchanges and corporate headquarters sit. Large pools also exist at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park and at the hospital systems in Streeterville and the Illinois Medical District.

Do Chicago job postings show the salary?

Most do. Since January 1, 2025, Illinois has required employers with 15 or more employees to include the pay scale and benefits in job postings for work performed in Illinois, including internal postings.

Can you get an office job in Chicago with no experience?

Yes. Receptionist, front desk and office clerk roles are common entry points, and hospital systems and staffing firms regularly hire people new to office work. Building Excel and Outlook skills, or finishing a short certificate, makes it easier to move up to administrative assistant.

Ready to get started? Browse all current office and administrative job openings in Chicago, IL on LocalJobPage.