What does an administrative assistant do? Duties, pay, education and outlook
Secretaries and administrative assistants perform routine clerical and organizational tasks: answering phones, scheduling, handling mail, preparing documents and keeping records. A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, and most learn the job on the job over a few weeks. Executive roles usually need several years of administrative experience.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| O*NET-SOC code | 43-6014.00 (Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive) |
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training | Most learn on the job over a few weeks |
| Median annual wage | $48,310 per year (May 2025, BLS) |
| Projected growth | -2 percent, 2025 to 2035 (decline) |
| Number of jobs | 3,515,600 (2025) |
| Projected openings | About 314,400 per year, on average, over the decade |
What does an administrative assistant do?
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) lists these duties:
- Answer phones, take messages or transfer calls.
- Schedule appointments and update calendars.
- Arrange staff meetings.
- Handle incoming and outgoing mail and faxes.
- Prepare memos, invoices and reports.
- Edit documents.
- Maintain databases and filing systems.
- Perform basic bookkeeping.
The OOH lists four types: executive, legal, medical, and all others (except legal, medical and executive).
Work environment
Healthcare and social assistance employ 32 percent of workers, educational services 13 percent, professional, scientific and technical services 11 percent, government (excluding state and local education and hospitals) 8 percent and religious, grantmaking, civic and professional organizations 5 percent. Most work in offices, some work from home as virtual assistants, and most work full time.
Education, training and licensing
- Education: High school graduates who are comfortable with word processing and spreadsheet software usually qualify for entry-level jobs. A bachelor's degree is typically not required, though executive roles may prefer some college or a bachelor's degree.
- Training: Most learn on the job over a few weeks. Medical and legal secretaries may train for several months to learn industry terminology.
- Experience: Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants typically need several years of experience in other administrative roles.
- Licensing: The OOH does not mention licensing or certification requirements.
Skills that matter
The OOH names decision-making, interpersonal, organizational and writing skills. O*NET lists the skills, knowledge and work activities for this occupation, which is useful when you tailor a resume.
How much do administrative assistants make?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $48,310 per year (May 2025). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $35,360 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,720. By type, the median was $76,590 for executive, $55,570 for legal, $47,540 for all others and $45,930 for medical. Our guide on how to research pay explains how to compare these with an offer.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, a loss of 75,300 jobs. This is a very large occupation, so about 314,400 openings are still projected each year on average over the decade.
How to get hired
- Pick your setting. Healthcare, education and professional services employ the most workers, and medical and legal roles value industry terminology.
- Show software skills. Name the word processing, spreadsheet and calendar tools you use well.
- Prove you are organized. Describe calendars you managed, volume of mail or calls you handled and records you kept accurate. Our ATS resume guide covers format. New to work? See no experience resume.
- Practice interview basics. Use our interview prep tools.
- Search steadily. Use our find a job fast routine and search jobs on LiveRec.
Related occupations
Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks; court reporters and simultaneous captioners; general office clerks; information clerks; medical records specialists; medical transcriptionists; paralegals and legal assistants; receptionists; financial clerks; travel agents.
Frequently asked questions
Do administrative assistants need a degree? No. A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, though executive roles may prefer some college or a bachelor's degree.
How long does it take to learn the job? Most learn on the job over a few weeks. Medical and legal secretaries may train for several months.
What does an executive assistant need? Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants typically need several years of experience in other administrative roles.
Is this occupation growing? BLS projects a 2 percent decline from 2025 to 2035, but about 314,400 openings a year.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm (accessed 31 October 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (43-6014.00): https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/43-6014.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
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