The Office Characters, Ranked From Best to Worst
Nine seasons, one paper company, and a cast of weirdos that somehow became a found family. Ranking the people of Dunder Mifflin Scranton is basically a bar argument that never ends, so we're jumping in with both feet.
This list covers all 26 regulars and recurring faces, from the icons who carried the show to the ones who overstayed their welcome. We leaned on what fans and critics tend to agree on, then made our own calls where the arguments get heated (looking at you, Nellie and Robert California). Disagree? That's half the fun, go rank them yourself.
The tier list
The community’s tier list fills in as members vote. It appears once 5 members have ranked or voted on these.
Think you can rank them better?
Make your own tier listFree account. Your ranking stays private unless you share it, and it counts toward the community tier list.Vote
SS Tier: The heart and soul of Scranton
Michael Scott
The whole show is built around his need to be loved, and Steve Carell somehow makes that tragic and hilarious at once. 'World's Best Boss' mug aside, Michael's mix of cringe and genuine warmth (see: Diversity Day, the Dundies, Threat Level Midnight) is the engine of the series. Nothing after he leaves ever quite replaces him, and the show knows it.
About Michael Scott
Regional manager of Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch for most of the show's run, played by Steve Carell. Known for cringe comedy, desperate need for approval, and surprising moments of genuine kindness.
- Played by
- Steve Carell
- Role
- Regional Manager
Dwight Schrute
Beet farmer, volunteer sheriff's deputy, world's most intense assistant to the regional manager. Dwight could have been a one-joke character but Rainn Wilson keeps finding new layers, from his bizarre loyalty to Michael to his actual competence at selling paper. The fire drill episode alone earns him a permanent spot at the top.
About Dwight Schrute
Assistant to the regional manager (never just the assistant regional manager), beet farmer, and Michael's most loyal employee. Played by Rainn Wilson.
- Played by
- Rainn Wilson
- Role
- Assistant Regional Manager / Sales
Jim Halpert
The camera-look heard round the world. Jim's pranks on Dwight (stapler in Jell-O, anyone) are classic, but what makes him work is the slow-burn romance with Pam and the way he quietly becomes less of a slacker over nine seasons. Some fans think his later marriage arc gets rocky, and they're not wrong, but his first five seasons are nearly untouchable.
About Jim Halpert
Salesman known for pranking Dwight and his long courtship of Pam Beesly. Played by John Krasinski, famous for his to-camera looks.
- Played by
- John Krasinski
- Role
- Sales
Pam Beesly
She starts as the shy receptionist doodling at her desk and ends up running the whole emotional through-line of the show. The teapot note, the art school attempt, the wedding in the rain, Pam's growth from scared to sure of herself is the quiet backbone of The Office. Jenna Fischer plays every beat of it right.
About Pam Beesly
Receptionist turned saleswoman turned office administrator, and the emotional center of the show's romance plot. Played by Jenna Fischer.
- Played by
- Jenna Fischer
- Role
- Receptionist / Sales
AA Tier: Essential to the show's DNA
Creed Bratton
Nobody can explain Creed Bratton and that's exactly the point. Quality assurance by day, possibly a fugitive by night, every line out of his mouth is a non-sequitur that somehow lands. Fans quote him constantly because he's unpredictable in a show that otherwise runs on very human logic.
About Creed Bratton
Quality assurance manager with a murky, possibly criminal past, played by an actor also named Creed Bratton. One of the show's strangest and most quotable characters.
- Played by
- Creed Bratton
- Role
- Quality Assurance
Kevin Malone
The chili spill. The world's worst/best party mix. Kevin is dumb in exactly the right doses, and Brian Baumgartner plays him with a deadpan sincerity that makes every scheme funnier. He's proof that a simple character, done consistently, beats a complicated one done sloppily.
About Kevin Malone
Accountant known for his simple outlook, love of food, and chili incident. Played by Brian Baumgartner.
- Played by
- Brian Baumgartner
- Role
- Accountant
Angela Martin
Prim, judgmental, and secretly one of the messiest people in the office thanks to the Dwight/Andy love triangle. Angela's cat obsession and ice-cold stare give her a distinct comic lane, and her slow thaw toward the end of the series actually feels earned.
About Angela Martin
Head of accounting, known for her strict demeanor, love of cats, and complicated romantic history with Dwight and Andy. Played by Angela Kinsey.
- Played by
- Angela Kinsey
- Role
- Senior Accountant
Andy Bernard
Early Andy, the Cornell-dropping, anger-management-attending nut job, is one of the show's funniest supporting players. Later Andy, once he takes over as manager, is where a lot of fans jump ship, his insecurity turns grating instead of charming. We're ranking him on the strength of those first few seasons.
About Andy Bernard
Cornell graduate and Nard Dog enthusiast who joins from the Stamford branch and eventually becomes regional manager. Played by Ed Helms.
- Played by
- Ed Helms
- Role
- Sales / Regional Manager
Oscar Martinez
The voice of reason in a room full of chaos, which somehow makes him funnier, not less. Oscar's exasperated reactions to Michael are comedy gold, and his storylines (the affair with Angela's husband, his eventual run for office) give him more depth than a lot of characters get.
About Oscar Martinez
Accountant and the office's most frequent voice of logic, later involved in local politics. Played by Oscar Nunez.
- Played by
- Oscar Nunez
- Role
- Accountant
BB Tier: Reliable supporting players
Toby Flenderson
Michael's hatred of Toby is one of the show's running gags that never really gets old, mostly because Toby is so relentlessly, sadly mild about it. HR guy as punching bag shouldn't work as a character concept, but Paul Lieberstein makes Toby's quiet misery oddly endearing.
About Toby Flenderson
The HR representative Michael openly despises for no good reason, played with quiet resignation by Paul Lieberstein.
- Played by
- Paul Lieberstein
- Role
- Human Resources
Darryl Philbin
Started in the warehouse, ended up in the corner office, and never lost his sense of humor along the way. Darryl's dry wit plays well off everybody, and his slow rise through the company is one of the more satisfying arcs the show bothers to finish.
About Darryl Philbin
Warehouse foreman who rises through the company over the course of the series. Played by Craig Robinson.
- Played by
- Craig Robinson
- Role
- Warehouse Foreman / Sales
Stanley Hudson
Crossword puzzles, zero patience for Michael's nonsense, and the single greatest scream in sitcom history (you know the one). Stanley doesn't need much screen time to make an impact, he just needs to look up from his puzzle and say something cutting.
About Stanley Hudson
Sales rep known for his love of crosswords, pretzel day, and general lack of patience for office antics. Played by Leslie David Baker.
- Played by
- Leslie David Baker
- Role
- Sales
Phyllis Vance
Sweet on the surface with a surprisingly sharp edge underneath, Phyllis gets some of the show's best one-off lines precisely because you don't expect them from her. Her wedding and her friendship with Bob Vance (of Vance Refrigeration) are low-key charming.
About Phyllis Vance
Sales rep married to Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration, known for her sweet demeanor and surprisingly sharp humor.
- Played by
- Phyllis Smith
- Role
- Sales
Erin Hannon
The post-Pam receptionist who had the impossible job of not being Pam, and mostly pulled it off through sheer sweetness. Erin's rough childhood backstory adds some unexpected weight to a character who could've just been comic relief with Andy and Gabe.
About Erin Hannon
Receptionist who joins after Pam moves to sales, known for her upbeat nature and rough upbringing in foster care. Played by Ellie Kemper.
- Played by
- Ellie Kemper
- Role
- Receptionist
Meredith Palmer
Chaotic, often horrifying, always good for a shock laugh. Meredith works best in small doses, the Christmas party incidents and supplier relations jokes land because the show doesn't overuse her.
About Meredith Palmer
Supplier relations rep known for erratic, often alcohol-fueled behavior. Played by Kate Flannery.
- Played by
- Kate Flannery
- Role
- Supplier Relations
David Wallace
The corporate boss who's actually likable, which is rarer than it sounds on this show. David's genuine respect for Michael (and later his own misadventures with Suck It) make him a steady, welcome presence whenever the plot needs someone from corporate who isn't a cartoon villain.
About David Wallace
Dunder Mifflin CFO and later a recurring figure in the characters' post-corporate lives. Played by Andy Buckley.
- Played by
- Andy Buckley
- Role
- CFO
CC Tier: Fine, but rarely the point
Jan Levinson
Jan's slow unraveling, from buttoned-up VP to candle-business obsessive living with Michael, is a wild ride that's more uncomfortable than funny by the end. Good early material, rough later material.
About Jan Levinson
Corporate executive and Michael's on-off romantic partner whose life unravels over the course of the show. Played by Melora Hardin.
- Played by
- Melora Hardin
- Role
- Corporate VP (former)
Holly Flax
Michael's actual soulmate, which is sweet in theory, but Holly doesn't get enough time on screen across the seasons to feel like a fully developed character rather than a plot device to give Michael closure.
About Holly Flax
HR rep from the Nashua branch, widely considered Michael's best romantic match. Played by Amy Ryan.
- Played by
- Amy Ryan
- Role
- Human Resources
Kelly Kapoor
Mindy Kaling makes Kelly's self-absorption genuinely funny in small bursts, especially paired with Ryan, but the character can wear thin when the show leans on her too hard for a full episode's plot.
About Kelly Kapoor
Customer service rep obsessed with pop culture and her on-off relationship with Ryan. Played by Mindy Kaling.
- Played by
- Mindy Kaling
- Role
- Customer Service
Karen Filippelli
A perfectly fine love-triangle obstacle who never gets much personality beyond 'the other woman keeping Jim from Pam.' Karen's not badly written, she's just underwritten, there in service of a story that was never really about her.
About Karen Filippelli
Salesperson who transfers from Stamford, briefly dates Jim, and competes for a promotion with Jim and Pam. Played by Rashida Jones.
- Played by
- Rashida Jones
- Role
- Sales
Gabe Lewis
Awkward corporate liaison energy, mostly there to be uncomfortable around Erin and ineffective as a boss. Gabe has his moments but he's more a symptom of the later-season cast bloat than a character fans actively root for.
About Gabe Lewis
Corporate liaison who becomes Erin's boyfriend and briefly manages the Scranton branch. Played by Zach Woods.
- Played by
- Zach Woods
- Role
- Corporate Liaison
DD Tier: Tested the show's patience
Ryan Howard
Temp to VP to disgraced executive to the guy nobody can stand, Ryan's whole arc is a critique of corporate ambition, and it mostly works, but the character himself gets harder to like every season. By the finale he's less a person than a punchline about being the worst.
About Ryan Howard
Started as a temp, rose to VP of Sales, then fell spectacularly after a fraud scandal. Played by B.J. Novak.
- Played by
- B.J. Novak
- Role
- Temp / VP of Sales
Roy Anderson
Pam's fiance exists mostly to be the guy Jim isn't, and the show never gives him much beyond gruff disinterest and the occasional flash of temper. Necessary for the plot, forgettable as a character.
About Roy Anderson
Pam's fiance in the early seasons, working in the warehouse at Dunder Mifflin. Played by David Denman.
- Played by
- David Denman
- Role
- Warehouse
Robert California
A genuinely weird swing for a show that had just lost its lead, Robert California's intense monologues feel like they belong in a different series entirely. Some viewers find him a fascinating oddity, but a lot of fans agree he never clicks with the rest of the ensemble.
About Robert California
Enigmatic executive who takes over as regional manager and later CEO following Michael's departure. Played by James Spader.
- Played by
- James Spader
- Role
- Regional Manager / CEO
Nellie Bertram
Dropped into the office late in the run with a backstory that never fully makes sense and a management style that grates more than it charms. Nellie's a symbol of the show reaching for new energy after losing Michael and Steve Carell, and mostly missing.
About Nellie Bertram
Eccentric executive who maneuvers her way into the regional manager job late in the series. Played by Catherine Tate.
- Played by
- Catherine Tate
- Role
- Regional Manager
FF Tier: The weak link
Todd Packer
Michael's old buddy from the Alabama branch is meant to be obnoxious, and Packer succeeds so completely at being unlikable that there's nothing left to enjoy. He's a joke that's funnier to talk about than to actually watch on screen.
About Todd Packer
A traveling salesman and Michael's crude, obnoxious friend from outside the branch. Played by David Koechner.
- Played by
- David Koechner
- Role
- Traveling Salesman
How we ranked them
We weighed how much each character shaped the show's best moments, how well-written and consistent their arc was, and how much fans still quote or reference them years later. Characters who added genuine heart or comedy to the office rank higher than those who felt like filler or dragged the show down in its later, shakier seasons. Longevity and growth mattered too, a character who stuck around and got worse counts against them.
Think we got it wrong?
Drag all 26 the office characters into your own tier list, then download the image or share a link.
Rank these yourselfFAQ
Who is the best character in The Office?
Most fans and critics put Michael Scott at the top, with Dwight, Jim, and Pam right behind him. It's the one thing almost everyone agrees on.
Who is the most hated character in The Office?
Todd Packer and later-season Ryan Howard tend to top most-hated lists, along with Nellie Bertram for fans who feel she never fit the show.
Is Andy Bernard a good character?
Opinions split hard here. Early Andy (seasons 3-5) is widely loved, but once he becomes regional manager, a lot of fans think the writing turns him into someone much harder to root for.
Why isn't Robert California ranked higher?
He's divisive. Some viewers love his strange, intense energy as a replacement boss, but a lot of fans felt he never meshed with the show's tone after Michael Scott left.
Who had the best character arc on The Office?
Pam Beesly and Dwight Schrute are the two names that come up most, Pam for her growth in confidence, Dwight for his slow transformation from comic relief to genuinely respected manager.
More rankings
Image credits
- Michael ScottCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Dwight SchruteCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Jim HalpertCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Pam BeeslyCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Creed BrattonPhoto: Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Kevin MaloneCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Angela MartinCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Andy BernardCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Oscar MartinezCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Toby FlendersonPhoto: Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Darryl PhilbinPhoto: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Stanley HudsonPhoto: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Phyllis VanceImage: Dunderpedia: The Office Wiki (Fandom), © its owner · Source
- Erin HannonCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Meredith PalmerPhoto: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- David WallacePhoto: Universal Television, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Jan LevinsonCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Holly FlaxCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Kelly KapoorCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Karen FilippelliPhoto: Photo by Stephanie Moreno/Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications for Peabody Awards/University of Georgia, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Gabe LewisPhoto: CaseyJNewell, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Ryan HowardCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Roy AndersonPhoto: sagindie from Hollywood, USA, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Robert CaliforniaCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Nellie BertramCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Todd PackerPhoto: Neal Brennan, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source