Salaries and costs
Mansfield admin salaries tend to sit a touch below major city rates, with administrators often earning £21,000 to £26,000, senior administrators £26,000 to £30,000, and experienced executive assistants from £30,000 to £36,000, depending on sector and scope. Temp pay rates for reception, data entry, and general office work often range from £11 to £14 per hour, with higher rates for PA cover or complex ERP work. Employers can expect recruitment fees for permanent placements to range from 12 per cent to 20 per cent of basic salary, with lower rates for volume junior roles and higher rates for specialist or scarce skills. Agency costs for temps usually include the worker’s pay, holiday accrual, NI, and margin, which is why a charge rate will sit above the headline hourly wage. Clear job briefs, realistic budgets, and timely feedback help recruiters control spend and reduce time-to-hire.
Qualifications
Most employers ask for GCSEs with strong maths and English, plus confident use of Microsoft 365, Teams, Outlook, and common CRM tools. Roles that touch finance may require basic AAT knowledge, purchase ledger experience, or exposure to Sage or Xero. Office managers and PAs gain from ILM or leadership certificates, minute-taking credentials, and GDPR training. NHS, education, and care settings in and around Mansfield often require DBS checks for front desk and records staff who handle sensitive data.
Roles and career paths
Admin recruitment agencies in Mansfield place a broad mix of roles, including receptionist, administrator, data entry clerk, medical secretary, PA, team secretary, sales administrator, finance administrator, office manager, and document controller. Career paths often move from general admin into team lead, PA or EA work, or into specialist tracks such as HR admin, payroll, purchasing, and project coordination. Candidates who pick up line management, supplier liaison, and basic budgeting often step into operations coordinator or office manager posts.
Temporary, permanent, and contract options
Local recruiters work across temporary, permanent, and fixed-term contracts, which suits peaks in workload and maternity cover. Temps keep offices running during audits, ERP rollouts, or holiday periods, with fast starts and weekly pay that attract experienced candidates. Permanent hiring provides stability for client-facing and confidential duties, with probationary periods and onboarding that support retention. Contract work suits projects, backlogs, and systems migrations, where clear deliverables and end dates are set from the start.
Local hiring challenges
Mansfield draws from a commuter belt that includes Sutton-in-Ashfield, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, and north Nottingham, with A38 and A60 links feeding the town. That creates competition for skilled PAs and office managers who can choose roles near the M1 at Junction 28 or within Nottingham. Peak demand occurs at year-end, during school holidays, and at month-end, so early booking of temps is wise. Hiring speed matters, since many good candidates hold multiple offers. Agencies help with shortlists, right-to-work checks, and quick availability calls, which smooths the process for local businesses.
Key sectors and employers in the region
The town’s admin job market is shaped by manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, education, and public services. Office parks such as Oakham Business Park and Sherwood Oaks Business Park house SMEs with steady needs for reception, order processing, and customer service. Healthcare providers and clinics require medical secretaries and records staff. Warehousing and e-commerce operations around the A38 corridor need administrators who can handle bookings, WMS updates, and returns. These patterns give recruiters a steady pipeline for candidates who know call handling, spreadsheets, and diary management.
Regulatory and compliance points
Right-to-work checks, DBS checks where needed, GDPR awareness, and solid reference practices form the core compliance set for admin roles. Employers often request two years of verifiable references for reception and finance-facing posts. Agencies that supply temps will manage holiday pay, pension auto-enrolment, and working time rules, while clients keep a close eye on health and safety briefings for front-of-house staff. Clear policies on data handling and visitor logging are common in schools, clinics, and council sites.
Regional or geographic variations
Pay and fees in Mansfield sit below Nottingham city rates, yet strong transport links mean that some candidates will commute for the right package. Employers near Mansfield station on the Robin Hood Line often attract applicants who rely on rail, while sites closer to the A38 find it easier to draw drivers from Alfreton and south Chesterfield. Parking availability, flexible hours, and hybrid patterns influence offer acceptance, especially for experienced EAs and office managers.
Market snapshots
The local labour market is tight for advanced Excel users, minute takers, and PAs with diary control across multiple directors. Entry-level admin remains buoyant given regular retirements and internal promotions. Agencies report steady demand for temp cover around audits, stock takes, and seasonal peaks in retail and fulfilment. Employers that offer training on ERP systems, clear progression routes, and transparent pay bands see stronger retention across the year.
Quick facts and frequently asked questions
What admin roles do Mansfield agencies handle?
Expect reception, general admin, PA and EA, sales admin, finance admin, data entry, and office management.
How fast can a temp start in Mansfield?
Same day for simple admin, within 24 to 72 hours for roles needing DBS or system access.
What are typical temp pay rates for administrators?
£11 to £14 per hour for most roles, rising for PA cover or advanced Excel work.
How do recruitment fees work for permanent admin hires?
Most agencies charge a percentage of basic salary, often between 12 per cent and 20 per cent, with rebate terms tied to the probation period.
How do I register with an agency as a jobseeker?
Send a CV, confirm your right to work, list your software skills, and share your availability, then expect a short call and an invite to an interview at the branch or online.