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What is an administrative services assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
introduction image

An administrative service assistant supports the general administrative functions of a wide variety of administrative and academic units by ensuring the day-to-day running of the office goes smoothly. The administrative service assistant is responsible for answering phone calls and directing calls to appropriate parties, preparing responses to correspondence that contain routine inquiries. He/She also prepares reports, memos, letters, invoices, financial statements, and other documents and processes payroll information. Plus, he/she retrieves corporate documents, records, reports and sets up procedures for the office or organization.

Skills that an administrative service assistant needs are excellently written and verbal communication skills, good organizational skills coupled with time management. They must also pay attention to details and solve problems quickly. The educational qualification needed by an administrative assistant is a minimum of basic maths and English GCSEs above a grade C. Administrative service assistants earn $34,676 on average per year.

What general advice would you give to an administrative services assistant?

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 Services AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $35,490

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.0

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.82%

Black or African American 9.22%

Hispanic or Latino 16.15%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.21%

Gender

female 88.37%

male 11.63%

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 services assistant career paths

Key steps to become an administrative services assistant

  1. Explore administrative services assistant education requirements

    Most common administrative services assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    48.4 %

    Associate

    26.9 %

    High School Diploma

    12.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific administrative services assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service13.56%
    Data Entry7.03%
    Home Health5.46%
    Provides Administrative Support5.31%
    Patients5.21%
  3. Complete relevant administrative services assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New administrative services 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 services assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real administrative services assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional administrative services assistant certifications

    Administrative services 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 services assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for administrative services assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research administrative services assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage local SharePoint and calendar with real estate and construction files, and event information, corporate attorney updates.
    • Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
    • Prepare transfer packets and coordinate transfers for patients being send to extend rehabilitation skil facility.
    • Assist in maintaining accountability of all badges issue, and in documenting all badge transactions within a SharePoint database.
  6. Prepare your administrative services assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your administrative services 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 services 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 services assistant resume templates

    Build a professional administrative services 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 services assistant resume.
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  7. Apply for administrative services assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an administrative services assistant 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 services assistant job

Zippi

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Average administrative services assistant salary

The average administrative services assistant salary in the United States is $35,490 per year or $17 per hour. Administrative services assistant salaries range between $28,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average administrative services assistant salary
$35,490 Yearly
$17.06 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do administrative services assistants rate their job?

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Administrative services assistant 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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

phones - because of my accent

Pros

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


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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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