Alvin vs hiring an office manager or admin for your shop
An administrative assistant in the US earns a median of about $48,000 a year, and a bookkeeping clerk in construction about $55,000, before payroll taxes and benefits. For a 5-person shop that’s a big step. Alvin takes on the office work in your apps for a fraction of it, and makes an office manager you already have far more productive.
On this page
Side by side
Scroll sideways to see every column.
| An office manager | Alvin | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | About $48,300/yr median wage for administrative assistants (BLS, 2025), plus taxes and benefits | Standard $99/mo, Pro $299/mo, plus usage in credits |
| Hours | Business hours, with time off | Any hour; scales with storm season |
| Turnover | When they leave, the knowledge goes with them | Alvin’s memory of your business stays, and you can edit it |
| Money | Whatever you trust them with | Purchases, invoices, refunds and price changes wait for a person, with dollar limits per role and per action |
| Record of work | Varies | Every action: who asked, who approved, before/after values, screenshots. Can’t be edited or deleted |
| In-person work | Yes: phones, walk-ins, the paper on the desk | No |
Prices and features as published by each company, checked October 4, 2026. They change; check their site for current details.
Where an office manager is strong
- Judgment, relationships and the phone.
- Can handle anything physical: mail, walk-ins, the filing cabinet.
- Knows your customers by voice.
Where Alvin is different
- A fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
- Doesn’t take the business’s knowledge with them when they leave.
- Every change is on the record: who asked, who approved, what changed.
Can you use both?
Most shops with an office manager keep them and give them Alvin. The manager directs the work and approves within their limits; Alvin does the clicking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an office manager cost a contractor?
BLS puts the 2025 median wage for administrative assistants at about $48,300 a year, and bookkeeping clerks in construction at about $54,900, before payroll taxes and benefits. Office managers who supervise others earn more.
Will Alvin replace my office manager?
It’s built to make them faster. The office manager keeps the judgment calls and approvals; Alvin does the repetitive work across your apps.
What can’t Alvin do that a person can?
Answer the phone today, handle paper and walk-ins, and sign or negotiate anything. Alvin stays on the paperwork side and routes those to a person.
Sources
See Alvin do your office work.
Hand Alvin real requests in the demo, or book a pilot and we’ll set up your apps with you.