Mid-Level

Program Support Assistant

The person who provides administrative and operational support to a specific program — handling participant intake, tracking program data, coordinating logistics, and supporting program staff with the day-to-day work that keeps programming running.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
S
I
A
R
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Program Support Assistants
Employment concentration · ~382 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Program Support Assistant

Day-to-day tends to involve a mix of office work — documentation, data entry, calls, scheduling — and direct program support like setting up activities, supporting events, or assisting program participants. The role often becomes the operational anchor of a program — knowing where things live, who handles what, and what falls through the cracks if you don't catch it.

Coordination tends to happen with program staff, participants, partner organizations, and the broader administrative network. Reporting and data work matter — most programs answer to funders, boards, or oversight bodies that expect numbers and outcomes documentation.

People who tend to thrive here are organized, dependable, and comfortable with the mix of office and program work. If you want clear creative ownership or formal authority, the support nature can feel limiting. If you find satisfaction in being the operational anchor that lets a program actually serve its participants well, the role can be quietly important — and a strong path into program coordination or management roles over time.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
IndependenceLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Program Support Assistants (SOC 43-6011.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Program Support Assistant career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
Explore career tools
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$48K–$108K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
473K
U.S. Employment
-1.6%
10yr Growth
50K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingWritingService OrientationCoordinationTime ManagementCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessActive Learning
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-6011.00

Navigate your career with clarity

Truest gives you tools to understand your strengths, explore roles that fit, and plan your next move.

Explore Truest career tools
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.