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What is an administrative office assistant and how to become one
Administrative assistants take care of the paperwork for their superiors in various industries and professional contexts. They file documents, answer and follow up on emails, manage appointments, issue invoices, and create documentation and reports on processes. Data entry and answering phone calls are also on their to-do list.
For some reason, this is a position handed primarily to middle-aged women. They multitask and make sure operations in the office run without obstacles. Recently, they have begun taking on technical responsibilities as well, such as managing the organization's social media page. Financial tasks and HR duties are also on their plate sometimes.
Although the work of administrative assistants is indispensable for the company, their salaries, unfortunately, do not reflect this adequately, with an average between $32,557 and $42,692 annually. In spite of this, however, a majority of administrative assistants are happy in their position and would prefer to keep working in this field.
What general advice would you give to an administrative office assistant?
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
Professor, West Virginia State University
Avg. Salary $33,318
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -8%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%
Asian 3.81%
Black or African American 9.17%
Hispanic or Latino 16.06%
Unknown 3.87%
White 66.35%
Genderfemale 85.27%
male 14.73%
Age - 52American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 52Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is basic
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Administrative office assistant career paths
Key steps to become an administrative office assistant
Explore administrative office assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific administrative office assistant skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 14.15% Data Entry 12.54% Phone Calls 7.01% Payroll 4.51% PowerPoint 4.25% Complete relevant administrative office assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New administrative office assistants 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 office assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real administrative office assistant resumes.Gain additional administrative office assistant certifications
More About CertificationsAdministrative office assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific administrative office assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for administrative office assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.
Research administrative office assistant duties and responsibilities
- Develop and manage external financial relationships between clients and the IRS.
- Manage the receptionist area, including greeting visitors and responding to telephone and in-person requests for information.
- Establish and maintain effective communications and cohesive working relationships with company associates, telephone and walk-in customers, and site visitors.
- Dust offices and clean windows and doors.
Prepare your administrative office assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your administrative office assistant 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 office assistant 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 office assistant resume templates
Build a professional administrative office assistant 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 office assistant resume.
Apply for administrative office assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an administrative office assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first administrative office assistant job
Are you an administrative office assistant?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average administrative office assistant salary
The average administrative office assistant salary in the United States is $33,318 per year or $16 per hour. Administrative office assistant salaries range between $25,000 and $43,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do administrative office assistants rate their job?
Administrative office assistant reviews
Good work life balance, low stress and responsibility
Writing a message,Organizing receipts and expenses and sending them out when needed
Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,
It my passion to help people in need. It makes me feel good to see people the Youth do well in the life
I don't like to see anyone stuck in between and not being helped.
Updated January 8, 2025
