The Office: Unveiling the Jaw-Dropping Salaries of Dunder Mifflin's Beloved Characters

Summary

Dunder Mifflin Scranton employees earned relatively low salaries despite enduring a ton of drama and foolishness.

Salaries at Dunder Mifflin varied across different roles, potentially resulting in Toby, the head of HR, earning a higher salary compared to Kevin, the accountant, who likely earned the lowest.

The characters from The Office chose to remain at Dunder Mifflin due to their comfort in the workplace, rather than being motivated solely by their salaries.

The employees of Dunder Mifflin Scranton endured an abundance of nonsense and theatrics on a daily basis. But how much were The Office characters actually paid for this, and how did it compare to Michael Scott's salary? As the regional manager, Michael subjected his employees to fake and real fire drills, hostage situations, and rodent problems, among other things. It might be assumed that these salespeople and HR representatives were compensated handsomely for the absurdity they endured. However, the reality was that these workers spent over ten years at Dunder Mifflin earning relatively low salaries to sell a product they didn't even care about.

Given The Office's comedic portrayal of a workplace, it's natural for fans to wonder about the salaries of Dunder Mifflin employees. Even Michael Scott's salary was called into question in an episode when Darryl encouraged him to ask for a raise so that his subordinates could earn more. Yet, working at a failing paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania didn't bring the characters the financial rewards they deserved. The cast of The Office ultimately stayed with Dunder Mifflin because they felt comfortable in their environment and enjoyed the company of their colleagues (despite their reluctance to admit it). The focus was never on their annual earnings; it was about finding a sense of contentment in their workplace.

Toby Flenderson: Head Of Human Resources ($50,000-60,000)

Darryl Philbin: Warehouse Foreman & Marketing Director ($40,000-134,000)

{{Toby_placeholder_1}} served as the head of human resources at the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. He maintained a close rapport with corporate officials and appeared to adhere to most of the company policies. However, Toby's effectiveness in his role was questionable as he struggled to exert control over the office environment. Despite the need to terminate several employees, Toby frequently made empty threats without carrying through due to being under the watchful eye of Michael. Nevertheless, this lack of action did not impact his salary, which could have been significantly higher since the average HR job in Scranton pays between $50,000 and $60,000 according to Indeed. Considering his position as the department head, Toby's compensation should have been much more substantial.

Starting as a warehouse assistant, Darryl Philbin quickly rose through the ranks at Dunder Mifflin to become a foreman. Responsible for overseeing all shipments and managing millions of dollars worth of products, Darryl not only excelled in his role but also became known for his memorable quotes on the hit show The Office. Recognizing his talent, Jo Bennett rewarded him with a well-deserved promotion to the position of marketing director, accompanied by a raise. Unlike most warehouse workers in Scranton who are paid hourly, typically earning around $20 per hour, marketing directors in Scranton have the potential to earn up to $134,000 annually.

Kelly Kapoor: Customer Service ($34,000-44,000)

Kelly Kapoor was a challenging individual to manage despite her ability to manage herself. Although she held the position of Scranton's customer service representative, her job was not particularly demanding, nor did she collaborate with her colleagues. Instead, her scenes mostly revolved around her cringe-worthy relationship with Ryan. It was only towards the later part of the series that Kelly began to show an interest in her job, specifically when the opportunity to take on a managerial role arose. Irrespective of her work ethic, it can be inferred that Kelly would have earned a salary between $34,000-44,000, based on the compensation range for similar positions in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Kevin Malone: Accountant ($50,000-80,000)

Kevin Malone, though officially an accountant at Dunder Mifflin, is not particularly skilled with numbers. It is puzzling that he holds this position alongside professionals like Oscar and Angela, and it is likely that he was the lowest paid among the three. In Scranton, other accounting jobs could potentially offer salaries ranging from $50,000 to $80,000. However, considering Kevin's fondness for M&M's, it is probable that his salary falls on the lower end of this spectrum. It is worth noting that Kevin's original role was supposed to be in the warehouse, so it is possible that he did not negotiate a favorable salary when he was transferred to the accounting department.

Oscar Martinez: Accountant ($42,000-50,960)

Also in accounting, Oscar was the next in line as the head of the department — regardless of being probably the smartest person in the office. Considering that both Oscar and Kevin hold the same position and neither of them is superior, Oscar's salary range would be equivalent to Kevin's. Nevertheless, given Oscar's superior intelligence and self-awareness of his value, the accountant might have negotiated a figure towards the higher end of the scale. However, when Pam designated herself as the office administrator and revealed her salary as $50,000, Oscar was taken aback, suggesting that Dunder Mifflin might have been significantly underpaying its staff.

Phyllis Vance: Sales Representative ($44,000-54,000+)

Phyllis Vance, a sales representative at Dunder Mifflin, didn't excel in her job like Jim, Dwight, and Stanley did. One interesting fact about Phyllis that Office fans are unaware of is her earnings in comparison to her colleagues. While the base salary for sales agents in Scranton commences at $44,000, their main source of income is the commission they earn on sales. Since Phyllis was arguably the weakest sales representative, except for Andy, her commission checks were likely not substantial, resulting in an approximate annual income of $54,000.

Angela Martin: Head Accountant ($67,000-84,000)

Angela Martin, a devoted mother and avid cat lover, held the position of head of the accounting department at Dunder Mifflin for several years. Given her experience and tenure, Angela would have undoubtedly outearned Oscar and Kevin. While she may not have been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), it is highly probable that she possessed a college degree, which would have played a crucial role in attaining the prestigious role of head accountant and consequently, a significantly higher salary. In Scranton, senior accountants typically earn between $67,000 and $84,000 per year. However, Angela's unwavering determination to uphold her standards and refusal to settle for anything less may have hindered her chances of securing substantial salary increases.

Dwight Schrute: Salesman & Regional Manager ($44,000-100,000)

Dwight Schrute, an accomplished sales representative, quickly rose through the ranks at Dunder Mifflin to eventually become the head of sales. After nine seasons, his determination and hard work paid off as he was promoted to the regional manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton. Throughout his career, Dwight's exceptional sales skills earned him numerous Salesman of the Year awards, highlighting his ability to generate impressive profits. Unlike Phyllis, who likely received the same base salary, Dwight's success in sales meant that he could have potentially earned commissions that matched or even exceeded his basic salary. As a successful beet farmer and dedicated employee, it is entirely possible that Dwight was earning a substantial six-figure income when he assumed the role of regional manager.

Pam Beesly: Receptionist, Saleswoman, & Office Administrator ($25,000-41,500)

Jim Halpert: Salesman, Assistant Regional Manager, & Co-Manager ($44,000-80,000+)

While Pam and Jim's relationship timeline in The Office took center stage, it was her initial role as a receptionist that set everything in motion. Pam dedicated several years to her position as a receptionist before transitioning into a sales role. However, she quickly realized the challenges of sales and decided to carve out a new title for herself as the office administrator. Starting salaries for receptionists in Scranton averaged around $25,000, and considering Pam's lack of experience and absence of sales, her income as a salesperson would not have significantly exceeded that amount. Surprisingly, Pam openly disclosed her salary as the office administrator, settling on an amount of $41,500, which caught Oscar off guard with her bold response of it potentially being $50,000.

Determining the more successful sales rep between Jim and Dwight is a challenge for a salesman. While Dwight possesses more experience at Dunder Mifflin, it remains uncertain if his commission checks match Jim's. According to the sales records of Dunder Mifflin, Jim achieved sales worth $31,000, $24,000, and $11,000 in November, December, and January respectively. Considering a 10% commission rate for agents, Jim received an average bonus of $2000 per month, resulting in an annual income of approximately $68,000. However, Jim's salary might have been subject to fluctuations after Sabre's takeover in The Office due to his refusal to work under the commission cap imposed by the company.

Michael Scott: Regional Manager ($60,000-80,000)

The salary of Michael Scott has been a topic of debate for many years. The fact that Michael did not give Darryl a raise, fearing that the warehouse worker would earn more than him, gives a strong indication of what the regional manager's salary was in the early days. At that time, Darryl's minimum salary would have been around $40,000, which suggests that Michael's salary wasn't much higher. In Scranton, regional managers typically earn between $70,000 and $130,000 per year. As the series progressed, Michael learned to assess his own value and negotiate for higher raises. However, it is likely that by the time he left The Office in season 7, his salary was closer to the lower end of that salary range.

Source: Indeed