How the national numbers differ
1Typical preparation differs.
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks has the edge on projected growth
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks is at -1.3% projected growth, compared with -5.2% projected growth for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks has the edge on median pay
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks is at $59,650, compared with $55,570 for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks has the edge on annual openings
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks is at 32,600 annual openings, compared with 18,100 annual openings for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.
45.7/ 100Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
vs
57/ 100Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.
Detailed evidence
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants vs Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
| Dimension | Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks |
|---|
| Median pay (2025) | $55,570 | $59,650 |
|---|
| Pay percentile | 40.6 percentile | 47.4 percentile |
|---|
| Projected growth (2025–2035) | -5.2% | -1.3% |
|---|
| Annual openings (2025–2035) | 18,100 | 32,600 |
|---|
| 2025 employment | 157,600 | 392,100 |
|---|
| How you qualify | High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing | High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing |
| O*NET preparation group | Job Zone 3 | Job Zone 2 |
| Related work experience | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. |
| On-the-job training | More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. | More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. |
The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.
