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What is an administrative support assistant and how to become one

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

Administrative support assistants work to enhance the performance of administrative units, performing various tasks, depending on demand. They do data entry, schedule meetings, make travel arrangements, or manage calendars.

They often take on receptionist roles and answer public inquiries over the phone or via email. They prepare reports and documents, follow up on correspondence, assist in bookkeeping, and support the office in any other possible way.

No specialized education or extensive experience is necessary to take on this position. You will need a high school diploma, but that is about it. You will need a set of personal skills to succeed, though, such as attention to detail and an ability to multitask and resolve problems efficiently. Good communication skills and familiarity with desktop tools will also prove to be important.

What general advice would you give to an administrative support 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 Support AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.8

Avg. Salary $36,341

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 3.84%

Black or African American 9.35%

Hispanic or Latino 16.35%

Unknown 3.87%

White 65.85%

Gender

female 83.43%

male 16.57%

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 support assistant career paths

Key steps to become an administrative support assistant

  1. Explore administrative support assistant education requirements

    Most common administrative support assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    48.9 %

    Associate

    25.6 %

    High School Diploma

    11.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific administrative support assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service14.69%
    Provides Administrative Support6.46%
    Data Entry5.85%
    Patients4.68%
    Travel Arrangements4.40%
  3. Complete relevant administrative support assistant training and internships

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

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

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

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

    • Participate in committee meetings by preparing minutes and presentation summaries, planning meeting agendas, and organizing and managing meeting logistics.
    • Coordinate highly confidential and sensitive material relate to employee relations, payroll and personnel actions.
    • Complete diverse administrative tasks accurately and efficiently including verification of insurance information, payroll administration, and coordination of department meetings.
    • Create PowerPoint's of upcoming activities/events to distribute to departments/teams.
  6. Prepare your administrative support assistant resume

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

    Build a professional administrative support 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 support assistant resume.
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    Administrative Support Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for administrative support assistant jobs

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

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Average administrative support assistant salary

The average administrative support assistant salary in the United States is $36,341 per year or $17 per hour. Administrative support assistant salaries range between $29,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average administrative support assistant salary
$36,341 Yearly
$17.47 hourly

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How do administrative support assistants rate their job?

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Administrative support assistant reviews

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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,


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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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