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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.

Watch this work See majors and colleges
Other titles employers use

Administrative Assistant (Admin Assistant) · Administrative Clerk · Administrative Secretary (Admin Secretary) · Administrative Specialist (Admin Specialist) · Administrative Support Assistant (ASA) · Administrative Technician · Department Secretary · Office Assistant

Inside the work

What you would actually do.

6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.

  • 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.

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

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Writing
  • Service Orientation
  • Time Management

Subjects to know

  • Administrative
  • English Language
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administration and Management

Useful strengths

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Written Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Expression
  • Near Vision

Working day

Picture yourself doing it.

These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.

How this job scores on four measures of working conditions, out of five
MeasureOut of 5What that means here
Close to other people2.7 Largely your own space
On your feet2.0 Mostly seated
Talking face to face4.7 Continuous — the job is conversations
Working with your hands2.9 Little 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.

  • High school or less 50%
  • A two-year degree 22%
  • A certificate or some college 17%
  • A four-year degree 11%

Tools of the work

Technology you may use.

  • Data base user interface and query software
  • Data base management system software
  • Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Project management software
  • Operating system software
  • Web platform development software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Video conferencing 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.

Selected stateNew York
People doing this work
197,740
Job openings each year
1,980
Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
11.1%
Compare every available state
State People doing it Job openings each year Expected change
New York 197,740 1,980 11.1%
California 169,500 18,170 −7.6%
Texas 167,830 18,440 −2.1%
Florida 111,130 12,150 −3.3%
Pennsylvania 83,250 8,740 −11.7%
Illinois 73,730 7,730 −11.8%
Ohio 58,140 6,080 −12.3%
Georgia 56,060 6,080 −5.1%
Maryland 53,800 5,770 −7.5%
New Jersey 52,710 5,570 −10.3%
North Carolina 50,430 5,460 −5.5%
Alabama 44,090 4,690 −9.2%
Washington 43,580 5,460 10.9%
Missouri 41,270 4,350 −11.0%
Colorado 39,690 4,330 −3.6%
Tennessee 38,360 4,230 −1.1%
South Carolina 34,990 3,800 −4.9%
Arizona 34,480 3,770 −3.5%
Michigan 34,150 3,550 −13.4%
Virginia 31,550 3,330 −10.9%
Louisiana 30,960 3,280 −10.1%
Minnesota 29,310 3,100 −10.1%
Wisconsin 27,480 2,940 −8.1%
Kansas 26,180 2,760 −11.0%
Connecticut 25,610 2,770 −5.9%
Oklahoma 25,180 2,660 −10.3%
Oregon 23,710 2,560 −6.2%
New Mexico 23,530 2,580 −2.6%
Kentucky 21,890 2,320 −10.2%
Utah 20,470 2,320 6.5%
Indiana 20,260 2,140 −10.6%
Puerto Rico 18,580 2,020 −4.8%
Nebraska 17,980 1,950 −5.7%
Iowa 17,270 1,840 −9.0%
Nevada 14,300 1,550 −5.5%
Mississippi 13,690 1,470 −7.5%
District of Columbia 11,230 1,190 −9.1%
Idaho 11,180 1,230 −2.4%
Arkansas 11,140 1,190 −8.5%
Massachusetts 11,100 1,180 −8.7%
New Hampshire 10,380 1,110 −8.5%
West Virginia 7,560 800 −10.1%
Delaware 7,400 790 −9.8%
Maine 7,080 730 −14.9%
South Dakota 6,620 720 −4.7%
North Dakota 5,340 570 −8.9%
Montana 4,880 530 −3.9%
Rhode Island 4,530 480 −9.8%
Alaska 4,430 500 5.7%
Vermont 4,400 470 −7.4%
Wyoming 2,310 250 −4.9%
Guam 1,160 120 −6.5%
Virgin Islands 500 50 −18.0%

Career to college

Build a path toward this work.

Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.

CareerSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Most direct field Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

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.

GA

Valdosta State University

Degrees each year
22
Admit rate
83%
Annual cost after aid
$12,000

Program entryOpen major

Open college FL

The University of Tampa

Degrees each year
16
Admit rate
41%
Annual cost after aid
$32,000

Program entryApply after enrollment

Open college MO

Northwest Missouri State University

Degrees each year
2
Admit rate
86%
Annual cost after aid
$14,000

Program entryApply after enrollment

Open college

Compare every college offering business operations support and assistant services

Keep exploring

Careers with something in common.

Compare paths that use similar training and strengths.

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsOffice Clerks, GeneralAdministrative Services ManagersLegal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsMedical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsFirst-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers