Secretary / Administrative Assistant

Explore Careers Secretary / Administrative Assistant O*NET-SOC: 43-6014.00 Government Provides clerical and administrative support to offices, managing schedules, handling correspondence, organizing files, coordinating meetings, and performing data entry and office management tasks. See your fit Take the quiz to see how you match Take the Quiz $46K Median Salary 9% Declining High School Diploma Min. Education Good Balance Work-Life Balance About This Role Secretaries and administrative assistants keep offices running by handling the organizational tasks that other staff depend on. They manage calendars for one or more executives, schedule meetings across multiple time zones, answer and route phone calls, and draft or edit correspondence such as emails, memos, and letters. Much of their day involves working with office software for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, along with maintaining both digital and physical filing systems so that documents can be retrieved quickly when needed. A Day in the Life 8:00 AM Review inbox and voicemails Scan overnight emails and phone messages, flag anything urgent for the supervisor, and sort remaining items by priority. 8:30 AM Answer and route calls Handle incoming phone calls, take detailed messages, and transfer callers to the appropriate person or department. 10:00 AM Prepare meeting materials Format agendas, assemble briefing packets, reserve a conference room, and make sure the projector and video setup are working. 11:30 AM Process and file documents Enter data into spreadsheets or databases, scan and file reports, and double-check entries for accuracy before archiving. 12:30 PM Lunch break Step out for lunch and review the afternoon calendar on the way back. 1:30 PM Coordinate schedules and travel Update calendars for the team, book flights and hotels for an upcoming business trip, and send appointment confirmations. 3:00 PM Greet visitors Welcome visitors at the front desk, sign them in, and direct them to the correct office or conference room. 4:30 PM Wrap up and plan ahead File the day's paperwork, place an order for office supplies, and prepare a priority list for the next morning. Tools & Technologies Database SystemsApache CassandraApache HadoopApache HiveTeradata DatabaseApache PigGraphics & DesignAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopCanvaFlickrProject ManagementConfluenceMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft TeamsOracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementDatabases & Data ToolsMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft SQL ServerOracle DatabaseAirtableFileMaker ProWeb DevelopmentApache TomcatHTMLMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPDrupalOperating SystemsmacOSLinuxMicrosoft WindowsSolaris Salary Details Salary Distribution Salary distribution for Secretary / Administrative Assistant: 10th percentile $32K, 25th $38K, median $46K, 75th $56K, 90th $64K Median $32K $38K $46K $56K $64K Most professionals earn between $38K and $56K Secretary / Administrative Assistant salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $32K 25th $38K 50th (Median) $46K 75th $56K 90th $64K Salary by State Secretary / Administrative Assistant salary by state map Secretary / Administrative Assistant salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $56K $38K - $80K Connecticut $56K $39K - $79K Washington $55K $42K - $70K Massachusetts $54K $39K - $76K California $53K $38K - $76K Rhode Island $52K $38K - $66K Hawaii $51K $38K - $68K Oregon $50K $36K - $70K Minnesota $50K $37K - $64K New Jersey $50K $35K - $68K New York $49K $37K - $65K Illinois $48K $33K - $75K Vermont $48K $37K - $61K Colorado $47K $36K - $64K Maine $47K $36K - $60K Maryland $47K $35K - $63K Delaware $47K $34K - $62K Wisconsin $47K $36K - $61K Alaska $46K $33K - $63K New Hampshire $46K $34K - $62K Virginia $46K $31K - $65K Arizona $46K $35K - $64K Nevada $46K $34K - $62K North Dakota $45K $31K - $59K Ohio $45K $31K - $62K Utah $45K $30K - $61K Michigan $45K $33K - $62K Pennsylvania $45K $31K - $60K Nebraska $45K $34K - $59K Iowa $44K $31K - $60K Florida $44K $31K - $61K Wyoming $43K $33K - $60K Tennessee $43K $29K - $61K Texas $43K $29K - $61K North Carolina $43K $28K - $60K New Mexico $43K $32K - $58K Montana $42K $32K - $56K South Carolina $42K $29K - $58K Kentucky $42K $29K - $58K Indiana $41K $31K - $58K Idaho $41K $29K - $58K Missouri $40K $29K - $59K Alabama $40K $28K - $58K South Dakota $40K $32K - $49K Georgia $39K $25K - $59K Kansas $39K $28K - $54K West Virginia $39K $29K - $57K Oklahoma $39K $25K - $55K Louisiana $38K $25K - $54K Arkansas $37K $27K - $54K Mississippi $36K $24K - $53K Secretary / Administrative Assistant salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $56K $38K - $80K Connecticut $56K $39K - $79K Washington $55K $42K - $70K Massachusetts $54K $39K - $76K California $53K $38K - $76K Rhode Island $52K $38K - $66K Hawaii $51K $38K - $68K Oregon $50K $36K - $70K Minnesota $50K $37K - $64K New Jersey $50K $35K - $68K New York $49K $37K - $65K Illinois $48K $33K - $75K Vermont $48K $37K - $61K Colorado $47K $36K - $64K Maine $47K $36K - $60K Maryland $47K $35K - $63K Delaware $47K $34K - $62K Wisconsin $47K $36K - $61K Alaska $46K $33K - $63K New Hampshire $46K $34K - $62K Virginia $46K $31K - $65K Arizona $46K $35K - $64K Nevada $46K $34K - $62K North Dakota $45K $31K - $59K Ohio $45K $31K - $62K Utah $45K $30K - $61K Michigan $45K $33K - $62K Pennsylvania $45K $31K - $60K Nebraska $45K $34K - $59K Iowa $44K $31K - $60K Florida $44K $31K - $61K Wyoming $43K $33K - $60K Tennessee $43K $29K - $61K Texas $43K $29K - $61K North Carolina $43K $28K - $60K New Mexico $43K $32K - $58K Montana $42K $32K - $56K South Carolina $42K $29K - $58K Kentucky $42K $29K - $58K Indiana $41K $31K - $58K Idaho $41K $29K - $58K Missouri $40K $29K - $59K Alabama $40K $28K - $58K South Dakota $40K $32K - $49K Georgia $39K $25K - $59K Kansas $39K $28K - $54K West Virginia $39K $29K - $57K Oklahoma $39K $25K - $55K Louisiana $38K $25K - $54K Arkansas $37K $27K - $54K Mississippi $36K $24K - $53K Lower ($36K-$46K)Middle (~$46K)Higher ($46K-$56K) Highest Paying States 1.District of Columbia$56K2.Connecticut$56K3.Washington$55K4.Massachusetts$54K5.California$53K Lowest Paying States 1.Mississippi$36K2.Arkansas$37K3.Louisiana$38K4.Oklahoma$39K5.West Virginia$39K Certifications, Training & Memberships Essential Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Certification Focuses on advanced administrative competencies like scheduling and document preparation essential for government roles. Recommended Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Certification Demonstrates mastery of office management skills including records management and communication. Helpful Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) - Word and Excel Microsoft Certification Validates proficiency in key tools for report formatting, data entry, and database maintenance. Professional Memberships International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Membership International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Membership Provides networking, resources, and professional development for administrative professionals. Work Environment Remote Work Hybrid (Remote + Office) Work Setting Traditional office / indoor Physical Activity Mostly sedentary Social Interaction Highly collaborative — frequent team interaction Schedule Extended hours common Your Skills & Attributes Skills & Competencies Matches (44) Time Management Good Match Active Listening Strong Match Speaking Strong Match Reading Comprehension Good Match Writing Good Match Frequently Asked Questions Is Secretary / Administrative Assistant a good career? Secretary / Administrative Assistant can be a rewarding career choice. Based on current data, the median salary is $46K and job outlook is declining (-9% projected growth). Whether it's a good fit depends on your skills, interests, and values — take our quiz to find out how well you match. What degree do you need to become a Secretary / Administrative Assistant? The typical education requirement for a Secretary / Administrative Assistant is a High School Diploma. However, requirements can vary by employer and specialization. Some professionals enter the field with alternative credentials or relevant work experience. How long does it take to become a Secretary / Administrative Assistant? Becoming a Secretary / Administrative Assistant typically requires about 4 years of high school education. Additional time may be needed for certifications, internships, or on-the-job training depending on the specific role and employer requirements. What is the work-life balance like for a Secretary / Administrative Assistant? The work-life balance for a Secretary / Administrative Assistant is generally considered good, with reasonable hours and manageable workloads. Individual experiences vary based on employer, specialization, seniority level, and geographic location. What is the job outlook for Secretary / Administrative Assistant? The job outlook for Secretary / Administrative Assistant is declining. Employment is projected to decline by 9% over the coming decade. Labor market conditions can vary by region and specialization. Find Secretary / Administrative Assistant Jobs Google Jobs (opens in new tab) Aggregated listings from across the web Search Secretary / Administrative Assistant jobs Indeed (opens in new tab) One of the largest job search engines Search Secretary / Administrative Assistant jobs LinkedIn (opens in new tab) Professional network job listings Search Secretary / Administrative Assistant jobs Related Careers Use arrow keys or swipe to scroll through related career cards Government Correctional Officer Guards inmates in penal institutions, maintaining order and security, enforcing rules and regulations, and overseeing daily activities while preventing disturbances and escapes. 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