Administrative Assistant Demographics and Statistics In The US
Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for administrative assistants in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 2,025,512 administrative assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 87.3% of all administrative assistants are women, while 12.7% are men.
- The average age of an employed administrative assistant is 50 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of administrative assistants is White (66.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (16.0%), Black or African American (9.2%) and Unknown (3.9%).
- Administrative assistants are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $45,740, the highest in the US.
- In 2021, women earned 94% of what men earned.
- Alaska is the best state for administrative assistants to live.
- Administrative assistants are 37% more likely to work at public companies in comparison to private companies.
Administrative Assistant Statistics By Gender
87.3% of administrative assistants are women and 12.7% of administrative assistants are men.
- Female, 87.3%
- Male, 12.7%
Administrative Assistants By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 87.3% |
| Male | 12.7% |
Gender Pay Gap For Administrative Assistant
Women Earn 94ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
Administrative Assistant Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the administrative assistant position over time.
Administrative Assistant Gender By Year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.78% | 92.22% |
| 2011 | 7.47% | 92.53% |
| 2012 | 8.20% | 91.80% |
| 2013 | 8.05% | 91.95% |
| 2014 | 8.41% | 91.59% |
| 2015 | 9.22% | 90.78% |
| 2016 | 9.13% | 90.87% |
| 2017 | 9.98% | 90.02% |
| 2018 | 10.64% | 89.36% |
| 2019 | 11.13% | 88.87% |
| 2020 | 11.73% | 88.27% |
| 2021 | 12.70% | 87.30% |
Administrative Assistant Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, administrative assistant engineering and assistant operator have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Escrow Secretary | 3% | 97% |
| Placement Secretary | 3% | 97% |
| Administrative Assistant/Secretary/Receptionist | 4% | 96% |
| Administrative Assistant | 13% | 87% |
| Information Technology Assistant | 67% | 33% |
| Assistant Operator | 77% | 23% |
| Administrative Assistant Engineering | 78% | 22% |
Administrative Assistant Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among administrative assistants is White, which makes up 66.4% of all administrative assistants. Comparatively, there are 16.0% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 9.2% of the Black or African American ethnicity.
- White, 66.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 16.0%
- Black or African American, 9.2%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- Asian, 3.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Administrative Assistant Race
| Administrative Assistant Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 66.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16.0% |
| Black or African American | 9.2% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| Asian | 3.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Administrative Assistant Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among administrative assistants.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Administrative Assistant Race By Year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.14% | 9.66% | 3.12% | 12.99% |
| 2011 | 71.95% | 9.93% | 3.01% | 12.97% |
| 2012 | 71.64% | 9.93% | 3.09% | 13.05% |
| 2013 | 71.69% | 9.55% | 3.29% | 13.23% |
| 2014 | 71.36% | 9.67% | 3.26% | 13.54% |
| 2015 | 70.82% | 9.67% | 3.27% | 14.01% |
| 2016 | 70.12% | 9.54% | 3.61% | 14.35% |
| 2017 | 70.19% | 9.28% | 3.38% | 14.76% |
| 2018 | 70.23% | 9.01% | 3.42% | 15.05% |
| 2019 | 70.70% | 8.72% | 3.47% | 14.84% |
| 2020 | 68.87% | 8.46% | 3.55% | 14.65% |
| 2021 | 66.42% | 9.15% | 3.81% | 16.03% |
Administrative Assistant Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $37,475 |
| White | $37,443 |
| Black or African American | $37,833 |
| Asian | $39,407 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $37,991 |
Administrative Assistant JOBS
Average Age of an Administrative Assistant
We determined the average age of administrative assistants based on ethnicity and gender.
Administrative Assistant Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 47 | 52 |
| Unknown | 36 | 49 |
| Asian | 43 | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 38 | 45 |
| White | 45 | 54 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 51 |
Administrative Assistant Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of administrative assistant employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of administrative assistants is 40+ years old, which represents 78% of the population.
Administrative Assistant Age
| Administrative Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 78% |
| 30-40 years | 16% |
| 20-30 years | 6% |
Types of Administrative Assistant Degree Levels
The most common degree for administrative assistants is bachelor's degree 47% of administrative assistants earn that degree. A close second is associate degree with 24% and rounding it off is high school diploma with 16%.
- Bachelors, 47%
- Associate, 24%
- High School Diploma, 16%
- Diploma, 5%
- Other Degrees, 8%
Administrative Assistants By Education
| Administrative Assistant Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 47% |
| Associate | 24% |
| High School Diploma | 16% |
| Diploma | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 8% |
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Administrative Assistant Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $36,872 |
| Master's Degree | $40,675 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,098 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $37,354 |
Administrative Assistant Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where administrative assistants work. We found most administrative assistants work for a public company. In addition, the industry that employs the most administrative assistants is the education industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire administrative assistants.
Administrative Assistant Jobs By Employer Size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 3% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 7% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 11% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 5% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 52% |
The Types Of Companies Administrative Assistant Work In
Employees with the administrative assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most administrative assistants prefer to work at public companies over private companies.
Administrative Assistant Jobs By Sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 22% |
| Public | 37% |
| Private | 34% |
| Government | 7% |
Top Industries Hiring Administrative Assistants
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ administrative assistants. Those industries include education, professional and finance.
Administrative Assistant Industry Statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Fortune 500 | 22% |
| Education | 16% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Finance | 8% |
| Health Care | 6% |
| Government | 5% |
| Retail | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Insurance | 3% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Telecommunication | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Administrative Assistant Turnover And Employment Statistics
Administrative Assistant Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of administrative assistants changed.
- Unemployment rate
Administrative Assistant Unemployment Rate By Year
| Year | Administrative Assistant Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.58% |
| 2011 | 7.01% |
| 2012 | 5.80% |
| 2013 | 5.28% |
| 2014 | 4.11% |
| 2015 | 3.32% |
| 2016 | 2.98% |
| 2017 | 2.93% |
| 2018 | 2.79% |
| 2019 | 2.48% |
| 2020 | 3.48% |
| 2021 | 4.29% |
The Average Number of Years That Administrative Assistant Stay in a Job
By looking over 947,701 administrative assistants resumes, we figured out that the average administrative assistant enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 35%.
Administrative Assistant Tenure
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 24% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 8% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Administrative Assistants with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to administrative assistants.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | 5.70% | - |
| Medical Office Worker | 9.17% | 98,358 |
| Assistant To The Director | 10.06% | 10,369 |
| Legal Secretary | 14.76% | 13,182 |
Administrative Assistant LGBT Demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Office Worker | 9.17% | 98,358 |
| Assistant To The Director | 10.06% | 10,369 |
| Legal Secretary | 14.76% | 13,182 |
Foreign Languages Spoken By Administrative Assistants
The most common foreign language among administrative assistants is Spanish at 64.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.6% and German is the third-most popular at 3.1%.
- Spanish, 64.2%
- French, 8.6%
- German, 3.1%
- Portuguese, 2.9%
- Chinese, 2.5%
- Other, 18.7%
Administrative Assistant Languages Spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 64.2% |
| French | 8.6% |
| German | 3.1% |
| Portuguese | 2.9% |
| Chinese | 2.5% |
| Other | 18.7% |
Administrative Assistant Jobs
Recently Added Administrative Assistant Jobs
Administrative Assistant Heatmaps
The amount you can make as an administrative assistant can depend on where you live. For example, the highest salary of administrative assistants is $56,925. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located.
Where Do Administrative Assistants Earn The Most?
Administrative assistants earn the most in California, where the average administrative assistant salary is $43,597. The map here shows where administrative assistants earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Which State Has The Most Administrative Assistants?
By looking through more than 947,701 resumes, we found that the most popular places for administrative assistants are New York, NY and Houston, TX.
Number Of Administrative Assistant Jobs By State
Where Are Administrative Assistants In High Demand?
Administrative assistants are in high demand in New York, NY. There are currently 487 job openings for administrative assistants here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country administrative assistants are in the most demand.
Administrative Assistant Demographics FAQs
What Percentage Of Administrative Assistants Are Female?
85.2% of administrative assistants are female in the United States. This is -0.6 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female administrative assistants has decreased by -4.3 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 1,946,961 female administrative assistants in the U.S. and 338,205 male administrative assistants in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 2,285,166 people with the specific job title of administrative assistant and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.