Administrative Assistant

The administrative assistant can be considered the glue that holds an office together. It is a broad term, covering employees who perform a wealth of various duties and responsibilities in the work environment; secretaries, receptionists, executive assistants, and personal assistants all fall under the administrative assistant umbrella. Therefore, responsibilities often include operation of phone systems, filing, word processing, data entry, appointment and meeting scheduling, electronic communication, mail distribution, project management, communication with the public, and various other clerical duties, depending on the office.

Qualifications

Employers often require either a college degree or 1-3 years of work experience, depending on the position. For mid- to high-level positions, an associate's or bachelor's degree and some office experience is preferred. Specific experience or expertise is usually not necessary, although many colleges offer 1-2 year programs specifically for administrative assistants. An administrative assistant should have experience with computers, preferably with knowledge of several word processing and data entry programs, and should be highly organized, with competence in the English language and in writing. Strong communications skills are also an asset, especially in those positions requiring interaction with the public.

Outlook

Administrative assistants are generally paid between 25,000 to 50,000 a year, or 10-15 dollars an hour. Because they are required in many different industries, working as an administrative assistant can be a stepping stone to other, higher-paying positions, and can be useful in becoming involved in a specific field of work, such as the health industries, business law, or non-profit organizations. Executive assistants and personal assistants are often paid more, as their jobs require more responsibility, such as the handling of confidential information, managing the affairs of high-level executives, or even communication in a foreign language.

There are more than 4.1 million administrative assistants working in the U.S. today, under a variety of job titles. Newcomers to the field should be prepared for stricter requirements than those of past decades; today many employers require a bachelor's degree in addition to work experience. The type of work experience required, however, is flexible, and it is of more importance that the candidate have the skills necessary to keep an office running smoothly.

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The salary range for Administrative Assistants begins around $18,440 and usually tops out around $43,240, with a mean in the neighborhood of $30,840. This is about 41% lower than the national average for annual salaries.

In order to qualify for most Administrative Assistants positions, you typically need to have a High School Diploma or higher.

Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The growth outlook for Administrative Assistants careers is estimated at about 11% while the estimated growth for all career fields over that same span is at about 10.12%. Over the next six years, Administrative Assistants jobs are expected to grow at a 9% higher rate than the national average for annual salaries.