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Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
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.
Other titles employers use
Administrative Aide · Administrative Assistant · Administrative Associate · Administrative Coordinator · Administrative Secretary · Administrative Specialist · Executive Administrative Assistant · Executive Assistant
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Manage and maintain executives' schedules.
- Make travel arrangements for executives.
- Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.
- Coordinate and direct office services, such as records, departmental finances, budget preparation, personnel issues, and housekeeping, to aid executives.
- Answer phone calls and direct calls to appropriate parties or take messages.
- Prepare responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, persuading and helping work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Service Orientation
- Coordination
Subjects to know
- Administrative
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.5 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.0 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.4 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A two-year degree 34%
- High school or less 24%
- A certificate or some college 22%
- A four-year degree 12%
- A doctorate or professional degree 6%
- A master's degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Project management software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Video conferencing software
- Word processing software
- Document management software
- Accounting software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 102,110
- Job openings each year
- 940
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 10.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 102,110 | 940 | 10.1% |
| California | 50,400 | 4,550 | −18.4% |
| Texas | 32,250 | 3,040 | −13.0% |
| Florida | 21,610 | 2,010 | −14.5% |
| Illinois | 15,670 | 1,370 | −22.1% |
| New Jersey | 14,210 | 1,250 | −21.4% |
| Maryland | 13,240 | 1,200 | −17.9% |
| Colorado | 10,450 | 980 | −14.0% |
| Pennsylvania | 10,340 | 920 | −20.8% |
| Washington | 10,110 | 1,030 | — |
| Missouri | 9,510 | 860 | −18.2% |
| Ohio | 9,330 | 810 | −22.6% |
| Louisiana | 8,940 | 790 | −20.5% |
| North Carolina | 8,680 | 800 | −16.1% |
| Georgia | 8,460 | 780 | −15.6% |
| Virginia | 8,340 | 740 | −20.3% |
| Michigan | 7,580 | 660 | −22.7% |
| Minnesota | 7,190 | 640 | −20.3% |
| Kansas | 6,510 | 580 | −20.2% |
| Puerto Rico | 5,940 | 540 | −17.7% |
| Iowa | 5,810 | 530 | −17.1% |
| Massachusetts | 5,740 | 510 | −19.8% |
| Arizona | 5,350 | 500 | −14.4% |
| Tennessee | 5,240 | 490 | −15.1% |
| South Carolina | 4,830 | 450 | −15.7% |
| Connecticut | 4,780 | 430 | −18.6% |
| Oregon | 4,160 | 380 | −16.0% |
| District of Columbia | 3,820 | 350 | −18.9% |
| Utah | 3,640 | 360 | −6.7% |
| Kentucky | 3,430 | 300 | −20.8% |
| Wisconsin | 3,380 | 310 | −18.6% |
| Indiana | 3,250 | 290 | −19.4% |
| Oklahoma | 3,230 | 290 | −20.6% |
| Alabama | 2,650 | 240 | −19.7% |
| Alaska | 2,540 | 260 | 4.1% |
| Maine | 2,250 | 190 | −24.2% |
| Nebraska | 2,190 | 210 | −13.8% |
| South Dakota | 2,130 | 200 | −12.7% |
| New Mexico | 2,090 | 190 | −15.4% |
| Nevada | 1,900 | 180 | −15.9% |
| Mississippi | 1,880 | 170 | −21.3% |
| Idaho | 1,710 | 160 | −11.4% |
| Arkansas | 1,540 | 140 | −14.4% |
| Delaware | 1,220 | 110 | −20.3% |
| West Virginia | 1,060 | 100 | −20.3% |
| New Hampshire | 1,040 | 90 | −20.0% |
| Vermont | 770 | 70 | −18.9% |
| Rhode Island | 580 | 50 | −20.5% |
| Montana | 430 | 40 | −12.2% |
| Wyoming | 340 | 30 | −20.9% |
| North Dakota | 320 | 30 | −17.9% |
| Virgin Islands | 220 | 20 | −26.7% |
| Guam | 80 | 10 | −20.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Valdosta State University
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college FLThe University of Tampa
- Degrees each year
- 16
- Admit rate
- 41%
- Annual cost after aid
- $32,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college MONorthwest Missouri State University
- Degrees each year
- 2
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open collegeCompare every college offering business operations support and assistant services