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What is an administrative and technical specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Administrative and technical specialists carry out challenging tasks based on prior experience and expertise in department systems, processes, and activities. Under general supervision, they address inquiries of agency programs, policies, and procedures. They also direct the clients to the appropriate staff member by determining their needs.

The general responsibilities of administrative and technical specialists may vary depending on the type of industry. Some common duties include providing clients with information on other resources, assisting clients with the completion of forms, and edit materials using the knowledge of procedures to determine the correct format. They are also in charge of composing letters and other correspondence.

You must possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent to be considered for this role. However, some employers prefer applicants with a certificate in a related field or equivalent knowledge gained from experience or a combination of both education and experience. It is essential for someone filling this role to have proficiency in computer software applications.

What general advice would you give to an administrative and technical specialist?

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Professor, West Virginia State University

I would say it's important to be very attentive to the way you communicate with your employers, managers, and co-workers. Even sending an e-mail can be an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and communication skills. Some people think that no one knows how to write anymore, or how to communicate in a professional way. I don't think that's true. But we don't always think about how our writing can be a tool to communicate our competence and seriousness. If you know how to write and communicate professionally-which college grads do-then make sure to demonstrate that in the workplace.
ScoreAdministrative And Technical SpecialistUS Average
Salary
7.1

Avg. Salary $90,598

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.80%

Black or African American 9.08%

Hispanic or Latino 15.91%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.62%

Gender

female 54.42%

male 45.58%

Age - 52
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52
Stress level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.4

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.6

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Administrative and technical specialist career paths

Key steps to become an administrative and technical specialist

  1. Explore administrative and technical specialist education requirements

    Most common administrative and technical specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    56.0 %

    Associate

    22.6 %

    High School Diploma

    8.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific administrative and technical specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    HR21.59%
    DOD18.69%
    Logistics13.17%
    SharePoint5.79%
    Technical Support5.06%
  3. Complete relevant administrative and technical specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New administrative and technical specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an administrative and technical specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real administrative and technical specialist resumes.
  4. Research administrative and technical specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage, monitor and troubleshoot wire and wireless network throughout the WISD campus and fiber connect buildings.
    • Lead the process of integrating the HRIS system, payroll, and compensation system into one database of record.
    • Manage FEDEX delivery requirements ensuring compliance with company policy.
    • Install applications, configure, troubleshoot issues, upgrades, and maintenance.
  5. Get administrative and technical specialist experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become an administrative and technical specialist. The most common roles before becoming an administrative and technical specialist include administrative assistant, office manager team lead and customer service representative.
  6. Prepare your administrative and technical specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your administrative and technical specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an administrative and technical specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable administrative and technical specialist resume templates

    Build a professional administrative and technical specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your administrative and technical specialist resume.
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
    Administrative And Technical Specialist Resume
  7. Apply for administrative and technical specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an administrative and technical specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first administrative and technical specialist job

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Average administrative and technical specialist salary

The average administrative and technical specialist salary in the United States is $90,598 per year or $44 per hour. Administrative and technical specialist salaries range between $65,000 and $124,000 per year.

Average administrative and technical specialist salary
$90,598 Yearly
$43.56 hourly

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How do administrative and technical specialists rate their job?

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Administrative and technical specialist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Writing a message,Organizing receipts and expenses and sending them out when needed

Cons

Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

It my passion to help people in need. It makes me feel good to see people the Youth do well in the life

Cons

I don't like to see anyone stuck in between and not being helped.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

everything except phones : Meeting,greeting, customer service, interviewing, on boarding, recruiting, presenting, etc.

Cons

phones - because of my accent


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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