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Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

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 $47,540 Median per year · $22.86/hr Most earn $33,280–$66,350

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Arrange conference, meeting, or travel reservations for office personnel.
  • Operate electronic mail systems and coordinate the flow of information, internally or with other organizations.
  • Perform payroll functions, such as maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.
  • Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.
  • Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
  • Supervise other clerical staff and provide training and orientation to new staff.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
6% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 163,900 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

  • Elementary and secondary schools11.6%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals6.5%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools6.0%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals3.2%
  • Real estate2.8%

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

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 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: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

This is a good entry-level job. Many people start with a high school diploma and a short certificate or on-the-job training, and it usually helps to have about 1 to 2 years of related office work first.

  1. High school diploma with business and computer classes

    4 years

    Typing, word processing, spreadsheet, and office technology classes build the basic skills employers look for in administrative work.

  2. Office Clerk, General

    1-2 years

    In this starter role you file, enter data, answer phones, and handle paperwork, which builds the routine office skills needed for administrative assistant work.

  3. Secretary and Administrative Assistant

    Ongoing once hired

    You draft correspondence, schedule appointments, keep files organized, and answer questions for a team or department, which is the core of this career.

Where it can lead

  1. Executive Secretary

    2-4 years of experience first

    You support senior leaders with more confidential work, complex scheduling, and independent decisions, usually after showing strong judgment and experience in general administrative roles.

  2. First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers

    4-6 years of experience first

    You lead a team of office staff, assign their work, and handle daily operations, which usually requires proven experience and some leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take typing and keyboarding classesFast, accurate typing is a basic requirement for nearly every administrative job.
  • Join a business or computer clubClubs like FBLA or similar school groups let you practice teamwork, presenting, and organizing events.
  • Get a starter job or volunteer in an officeHelping at a school front office or community group gives you real experience answering phones and keeping files.
  • Learn spreadsheet and word processing toolsUsing these programs for class projects builds the computer skills used in daily administrative tasks.
  • Practice clear written communicationWriting emails and letters for school activities prepares you to draft correspondence on the job.

In college

  • Earn an office administration certificate or take office technology coursesA certificate or relevant courses show employers you have the specific skills this career requires.
  • Work a campus office or front desk jobCampus jobs in departments or admissions offices give you hands-on experience with scheduling, files, and visitors.
  • Get an internship or part-time admin roleOffice internships give you the 1 to 2 years of related experience that employers often look for.
  • Build software skillsBecoming strong in spreadsheets, presentation tools, and calendar and email systems makes you a stronger candidate.
  • Join a professional or student organizationGroups that focus on business or administration help you network and develop leadership and communication skills.

Tips for getting started

  • Practice typing and learn common office software like word processors, spreadsheets, and email programs, since these skills show up in most job ads.
  • Look for part-time or summer jobs at a school office, a doctor's office, or a local business to get real office experience early.
  • Keep a simple work sample folder with examples of documents or schedules you have organized, so you can show employers what you can do.

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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