CFChooseField
Office and Administration

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

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

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Download graphic

Median pay

$46,290
Median annual pay for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
View source ↗

10-year growth

-1.6%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Annual openings

202,800
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Employment

1,944,000
Estimated U.S. employment for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
View source ↗

Jobs added or lost

-30,800
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗

Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Short-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
View source ↗
O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Writing
  5. 5Monitoring
  6. 6Critical Thinking

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Administrative
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Computers and Electronics
  4. 4Customer and Personal Service
  5. 5Administration and Management
  6. 6Mathematics

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Comprehension
  2. 2Oral Expression
  3. 3Written Comprehension
  4. 4Written Expression
  5. 5Near Vision
  6. 6Speech Clarity

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Enterprising
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Realistic
  5. 5Investigative
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Dependability
  2. 2Attention to Detail
  3. 3Cooperation
  4. 4Social Orientation
  5. 5Integrity
  6. 6Self-Control

Work activities

  1. 1Working with Computers
  2. 2Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Performing Administrative Activities
  5. 5Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  6. 6Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

Work context

  1. 1Telephone Conversations
  2. 2Contact With Others
  3. 3E-Mail
  4. 4Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  5. 5Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  6. 6Spend Time Sitting

Representative tasks

  • Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
  • Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
  • Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.
  • Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
  • Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
  • Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.
  • Operate electronic mail systems and coordinate the flow of information, internally or with other organizations.
  • Schedule and confirm appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors.

Software and tools

Microsoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft Word · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandLinux · hot technologyGoogle Sheets · hot technologyGoogle Workspace software · hot technologyHypertext markup language HTML · hot technologyIBM SPSS Statistics · hot technologyIntuit QuickBooks · hot technologyKronos Workforce Timekeeper · hot technology

The short answer

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

The measurable national baseline is $46,290 median annual pay, -1.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034, and 202,800 projected openings per year. Use these figures as a national benchmark rather than a personal forecast; location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours can change individual outcomes.

Pay and the size of the opportunity

The national median-pay figure for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive is $46,290. Current employment is 1,944,000, with projected 2034 employment of 1,913,200. Pay describes the middle worker nationally, not a guaranteed starting salary, and the employment totals describe the occupation's scale rather than the number of jobs available to one applicant.

Demand, growth, and annual openings

BLS projects -1.6% employment growth for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive from 2024 to 2034 and about 202,800 openings per year. Growth measures whether the occupation is expanding, while annual openings also include replacement needs created when workers retire, change occupations, or leave the labor force.

Education and preparation

The typical BLS entry-education category is High school diploma or equivalent. Related work experience is None, and the listed on-the-job training category is Short-term on-the-job training. These categories summarize a national pathway; licensing, certification, portfolios, apprenticeships, or local employer requirements may add to it.

What the work involves

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

A representative O*NET task is: Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals. The broader activity profile emphasizes Working with Computers, Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates, Getting Information.

Skills, knowledge, and tools

The strongest available O*NET skill signals are Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension. Leading knowledge areas are Administrative, English Language, Computers and Electronics. These are national occupational signals, so a specific employer may emphasize a different mix. Examples of software or tools associated with the occupation include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word.

Common questions

What is the median pay for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?

The national median annual pay in the current dataset is $46,290. Actual pay varies by location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours.

Is demand growing for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?

BLS projects -1.6% employment growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 202,800 openings per year. Openings include both newly created positions and replacement demand.

What education is needed for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?

The typical BLS entry-education category is High school diploma or equivalent. Related experience, on-the-job training, licensing, or certification requirements may also apply.

What does Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive involve?

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

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.