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Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants

Typical education: Associate degreeLower pressure

What they do

Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $76,590 Median per year · $36.82/hr Most earn $50,560–$109,850

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Coordinate and direct office services, such as records, departmental finances, budget preparation, personnel issues, and housekeeping, to aid executives.
  • Prepare responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries.
  • Open, sort, and distribute incoming correspondence, including faxes and email.
  • File and retrieve corporate documents, records, and reports.
  • Supervise and train other clerical staff and arrange for employee training by scheduling training or organizing training material.
  • Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.

Job outlook

United States
About the same number of jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 43,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools8.3%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals7.9%
  • Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities6.7%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals6.2%
  • Management of companies and enterprises5.5%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Associate degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant is not usually an entry-level job. Most people spend about 2 to 4 years in another administrative role first, after finishing an associate degree or similar training. Your path could take roughly 4 to 8 years from high school.

  1. High school diploma with business, typing, and computer classes

    4 years

    Building strong writing, typing, and computer skills now gives you a head start on the office software and communication work this job needs.

  2. Associate degree in office administration or business

    2 years

    A two-year degree teaches office procedures, business writing, and software skills that employers expect for high-level administrative work.

  3. Administrative Assistant

    2-4 years

    You handle scheduling, correspondence, and records for a team or department, which builds the experience and judgment needed to support executives.

  4. Executive Administrative Assistant

    Ongoing

    You support senior leaders directly, handling research, reports, confidential information, and sometimes supervising clerical staff.

Where it can lead

  1. Office Supervisor

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move from supporting executives to leading a team of office and administrative staff, which means training, scheduling, and managing daily workflow.

  2. Administrative Services Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    You take charge of broader office operations such as facilities, budgets, and vendor contracts, which usually requires several years of proven leadership in administration.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take typing, business, and computer applications classesThese classes build the keyboarding and office software skills you will use every day in administrative work.
  • Strengthen your writing and speaking skillsEnglish and public speaking classes help you write clear emails and reports and present information confidently to others.
  • Join a school club that involves organizing events or leading meetingsServing as a secretary, treasurer, or event planner for a club gives you real practice with scheduling, records, and communication.
  • Get a part-time or summer job in an office or front desk roleEven a simple job answering phones or filing gives you early workplace experience and a reference.

In college

  • Earn an associate degree in office administration or businessThis degree covers office procedures, business communication, and records management, which is the typical education for this career.
  • Work as an administrative assistant in a campus office or departmentCampus jobs let you practice scheduling, correspondence, and supporting staff while you are still in school.
  • Complete an internship with an office, company, or nonprofitAn internship shows you how real offices run and helps you build the experience employers look for.
  • Earn an office software certificationA certification in common office software shows employers you can handle spreadsheets, documents, and presentations from day one.
  • Join a student organization that involves leadership or event planningLeading a group builds the organizing, communication, and teamwork skills that executive assistants use daily.

Tips for getting started

  • Practice typing and learn spreadsheet and presentation software now, since these skills show up in almost every administrative job posting.
  • Ask a teacher, coach, or employer for a reference letter early. Strong references help when you apply for your first office job.
  • Look for part-time or summer office work, even at a school or local business, so you can start building the 2 to 4 years of experience this career usually expects.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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