If you’re beginning your journey with Salesforce or planning a career as a Salesforce Administrator, one common question always comes up:
“What does a Salesforce Admin actually do daily?”
The answer is simple: Salesforce Admins keep the entire CRM system running smoothly for business users.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the top 12 daily Salesforce Admin tasks, explained in easy language and real-world examples. Whether you’re a fresher learning Salesforce or preparing for your first Admin role, this guide will help you understand what the job really looks like in practice.
Who Is a Salesforce Administrator?
A Salesforce Administrator is the owner and caretaker of the Salesforce platform within an organization.
They ensure that sales, service, and marketing teams can use Salesforce effectively without interruptions. Admins manage users, maintain data, build automation, create reports, and make sure the system stays secure and reliable.
Simply put, they act as the connection between business needs and technical solutions.
💡 New to Salesforce?
Check out our blog What is Salesforce? A Complete Beginner’s Guide to CRM Success to understand the basics of CRM and why Salesforce is the world’s leading platform.
Why the Salesforce Admin Role Matters
For many companies, Salesforce is the backbone of daily operations. It stores customer information, sales pipelines, service cases, and performance data.
If Salesforce isn’t working correctly, productivity drops. Salesforce Admins prevent this by keeping the system accurate, fast, and user-friendly making them critical to business success.
A Day in the Life of a Salesforce Administrator
Let’s explore the 12 key tasks Salesforce Admins regularly perform, explained in a simple and beginner-friendly way.
1. User Management and Access Control
Managing users is a core responsibility of every Salesforce Admin.
Daily tasks include:
Creating user accounts for new employees
Deactivating users who leave the organization
Resetting passwords
Assigning profiles, roles, and permission sets
Why it matters:
Proper access ensures users see only what they’re supposed to, keeping data secure and organized.
Example:
A sales executive can view only their own accounts, while a sales manager can access the entire team’s data.
2. Data Management and Cleanup
Salesforce Admins spend significant time maintaining clean and accurate data.
Typical activities:
Importing and updating records using the Data Import Wizard or the Data Loader
Removing duplicate leads and contacts
Fixing incomplete or incorrect data
Ensuring data consistency across objects
Why it matters:
Reliable data helps teams make better decisions and improve customer communication.
3. Monitoring Salesforce System Health
Admins regularly check whether Salesforce is functioning properly.
They monitor:
Login history for unusual activity
Page load speed and performance
Errors in integrations with tools like email or ERP systems
Example:
If automated emails stop sending, the admin identifies the issue and resolves it quickly.
4. Building Reports and Dashboards
Business teams rely on Admins for insights and analytics.
Admins create and maintain:
Reports such as pipeline status, lead conversion, or revenue summaries
Dashboards with charts and visual performance indicators
Why it matters:
Leadership uses these reports to track progress and make informed decisions.
5. Automating Business Processes
Automation is one of the most valuable Salesforce Admin skills.
Admins use tools like:
Salesforce Flow (record-triggered, screen, scheduled)
Legacy Workflow Rules and Process Builder (being phased out)
Common automations include:
Sending automatic email alerts
Updating fields based on actions
Assigning leads based on region or criteria
Example:
A new lead from India is automatically routed to the India sales teamsaving manual effort.
6. Managing Page Layouts and Lightning Pages
Admins continuously improve user experience by customizing Salesforce pages.
Tasks include:
Adding or modifying custom fields
Organizing page layouts
Removing unnecessary fields
Adding quick actions and related lists
Why it matters:
A clean interface helps users work faster and reduces confusion.
7. Resolving User Support Issues
Admins are often the first point of contact for Salesforce-related issues.
Common user questions:
“Why can’t I edit this record?”
“Where did my report go?”
“Why can’t I see this field?”
Admins troubleshoot these problems daily to keep users productive.
8. Managing Picklists and Validation Rules
To maintain data quality, Admins update system rules regularly.
Examples include:
Adding new picklist values (e.g., new lead sources)
Creating validation rules to enforce required fields
Example:
If an opportunity is marked “Closed Won,” the system requires an amount before saving.
9. Testing New Salesforce Features
Salesforce releases updates three times a year.
Admins:
Review release notes
Test new features in Sandbox
Ensure existing automation still works
Prepare the system before production deployment
Why it matters:
Testing prevents system issues after updates go live.
10. Training Users and Sharing Updates
Admins also act as trainers and communicators.
They:
Onboard new users
Create guides, documentation, or short videos
Inform teams about new features or changes
Example:
When a new lead automation is introduced, Admins explain how it works to the sales team.
11. Data Backup and Security Checks
Protecting company data is a daily responsibility.
Admins review:
Backup processes
Field-level security
Sharing rules and permission sets
Audit logs
Why it matters:
This helps prevent data loss, security breaches, and accidental deletions.
12. Collaborating with Developers and Stakeholders
Salesforce Admins work closely with:
Developers for complex automation or integrations
Managers to gather requirements
End users to collect feedback
Example:
If a manager requests a new automation that requires code, the admin designs the logic and collaborates with a developer to implement it.
Final Thoughts
A Salesforce Administrator’s role goes far beyond basic configuration. From managing users and data to building automation and supporting business teams, Admins play a vital role in CRM success.
If you’re planning a Salesforce career in 2026, mastering these 12 tasks will prepare you for real-world challenges and make you job-ready.
