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What is a bilingual administrative assistant and how to become one

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

A bilingual administrative assistant provides administrative support to a company or organization in two or more languages. They may answer phones, schedule appointments, manage correspondence, and organize files. They also communicate with clients and customers in their preferred language, translating documents and interpreting conversations. A bilingual administrative assistant must have excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask. This position requires fluency in at least two languages, typically English and another language.

What general advice would you give to a bilingual administrative 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.
ScoreBilingual Administrative AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.7

Avg. Salary $34,642

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 3.91%

Black or African American 7.55%

Hispanic or Latino 17.05%

Unknown 3.85%

White 66.92%

Gender

female 89.74%

male 10.26%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a bilingual administrative assistant?

Pros

  • Increased job opportunities

  • Higher salary potential

  • Improved language skills

  • Opportunity to travel and work in different countries

  • Increased job security

Cons

  • High stress levels due to multiple responsibilities

  • Constantly changing priorities and tasks

  • Limited career advancement opportunities in some organizations

  • Possible discrimination or bias due to language or cultural differences

  • Difficulty balancing work responsibilities with personal life

Bilingual administrative assistant career paths

Key steps to become a bilingual administrative assistant

  1. Explore bilingual administrative assistant education requirements

    Most common bilingual administrative assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    52.6 %

    Associate

    19.9 %

    High School Diploma

    10.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific bilingual administrative assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service20.56%
    Data Entry10.44%
    PowerPoint7.46%
    Phone Calls6.37%
    Word Processing5.99%
  3. Complete relevant bilingual administrative assistant training and internships

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

    Bilingual administrative 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 bilingual administrative assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for bilingual administrative assistants include Certified Translator and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).

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

    • Manage confidential computerize student records and coordinate faculty payroll.
    • Support medical doctors, manage sensitive and confidential records pertaining to high risk patients with emphasis on accuracy.
    • Prepare invoices for payment and add checks into QuickBooks for payment, and organize and distribute business correspondence.
    • Schedule and organize reservations for company official or customers.
  6. Prepare your bilingual administrative assistant resume

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

    Build a professional bilingual administrative 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 bilingual administrative assistant resume.
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
    Bilingual Administrative Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for bilingual administrative assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a bilingual administrative 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 bilingual administrative assistant job

Zippi

Are you a bilingual administrative assistant?

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Average bilingual administrative assistant salary

The average bilingual administrative assistant salary in the United States is $34,642 per year or $17 per hour. Bilingual administrative assistant salaries range between $27,000 and $44,000 per year.

Average bilingual administrative assistant salary
$34,642 Yearly
$16.65 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do bilingual administrative assistants rate their job?

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Bilingual administrative 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.


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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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