Clerical/administrative assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Clerical/administrative assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates clerical/administrative assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our clerical/administrative assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about clerical/administrative assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 960,147 clerical/administrative assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 85.5% of all clerical/administrative assistants are women, while 14.5% are men.
- The average clerical/administrative assistant age is 50 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of clerical/administrative assistants is White (65.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (16.4%), Black or African American (9.4%) and Unknown (3.9%).
- Clerical/administrative assistants are most in-demand in Salt Lake City, UT.
- The government industry is the highest-paying for clerical/administrative assistants.
- 6% of all clerical/administrative assistants are LGBT.
On this page
Clerical/administrative assistant demographics by:
Clerical/administrative assistant gender statistics
85.5% of clerical/administrative assistants are women and 14.5% of clerical/administrative assistants are men.
- Female, 85.5%
- Male, 14.5%
Clerical/administrative assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 85.5% |
| Male | 14.5% |
Clerical/administrative assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$33,158
Female income
$31,499
Clerical/administrative assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in clerical/administrative assistant positions over time. Currently, 85.5% of clerical/administrative assistants are female.
Clerical/administrative assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.93% | 91.07% |
| 2011 | 8.58% | 91.42% |
| 2012 | 9.40% | 90.60% |
| 2013 | 9.23% | 90.77% |
| 2014 | 9.64% | 90.36% |
| 2015 | 10.56% | 89.44% |
| 2016 | 10.45% | 89.55% |
| 2017 | 11.41% | 88.59% |
| 2018 | 12.16% | 87.84% |
| 2019 | 12.71% | 87.29% |
| 2020 | 13.38% | 86.62% |
| 2021 | 14.46% | 85.54% |
Clerical/administrative assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared clerical/administrative assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, administrative assistant engineering and assistant operator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Escrow Secretary | 3% | 97% |
| Placement Secretary | 3% | 97% |
| Administrative Assistant/Secretary/Receptionist | 4% | 96% |
| Clerical/Administrative Assistant | 14% | 86% |
| Information Technology Assistant | 67% | 33% |
| Assistant Operator | 77% | 23% |
| Administrative Assistant Engineering | 78% | 22% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Clerical/administrative assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among clerical/administrative assistants is White, which makes up 65.7% of all clerical/administrative assistants. Comparatively, 16.4% of clerical/administrative assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 9.4% of clerical/administrative assistants are Black or African American.
- White, 65.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 16.4%
- Black or African American, 9.4%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- Asian, 3.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Clerical/administrative assistant race
| Clerical/administrative assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 65.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 16.4% |
| Black or African American | 9.4% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| Asian | 3.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Clerical/administrative assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how clerical/administrative assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Clerical/administrative assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 71.47% | 9.89% | 3.16% | 13.38% |
| 2011 | 71.28% | 10.16% | 3.05% | 13.36% |
| 2012 | 70.97% | 10.16% | 3.13% | 13.44% |
| 2013 | 71.03% | 9.78% | 3.32% | 13.62% |
| 2014 | 70.69% | 9.90% | 3.29% | 13.93% |
| 2015 | 70.16% | 9.90% | 3.31% | 14.40% |
| 2016 | 69.45% | 9.77% | 3.65% | 14.74% |
| 2017 | 69.53% | 9.51% | 3.41% | 15.14% |
| 2018 | 69.57% | 9.24% | 3.46% | 15.44% |
| 2019 | 70.03% | 8.96% | 3.51% | 15.23% |
| 2020 | 68.21% | 8.70% | 3.59% | 15.03% |
| 2021 | 65.75% | 9.38% | 3.85% | 16.42% |
Clerical/administrative assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, asian clerical/administrative assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White clerical/administrative assistants have the lowest average salary at $32,751.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $32,773 |
| White | $32,751 |
| Black or African American | $33,024 |
| Asian | $34,124 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $33,135 |
Average clerical/administrative assistant age
See how the average age of clerical/administrative assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Clerical/administrative assistant age by race and gender
| 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 |
Clerical/administrative assistant age breakdown
The average age of clerical/administrative assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 78% of the clerical/administrative assistant population.
Clerical/administrative assistant age breakdown
| Clerical/Administrative Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 78% |
| 30-40 years | 16% |
| 20-30 years | 6% |
Clerical/administrative assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for clerical/administrative assistants is bachelor's degree, with 35% of clerical/administrative assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 28% and associate degree degree at 21%.
- Bachelor's, 35%
- Associate, 28%
- High School Diploma, 21%
- Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 9%
Clerical/administrative assistants by degree level
| Clerical/administrative assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 35% |
| Associate | 28% |
| High School Diploma | 21% |
| Diploma | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 9% |
Clerical/administrative assistant jobs you might like
Clerical/administrative assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, clerical/administrative assistants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $35,004 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, clerical/administrative assistants earn a median annual income of $33,909 compared to $32,688 for clerical/administrative assistants with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $35,004 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $32,349 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $33,909 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $32,688 |
Clerical/administrative assistant employment statistics
Most clerical/administrative assistants work for a private in the professional industry.
Company size where clerical/administrative assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where clerical/administrative assistants work.
Clerical/administrative assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 13% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 17% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 29% |
Clerical/administrative assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the clerical/administrative assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most clerical/administrative assistants prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Clerical/administrative assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 14% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 57% |
| Government | 5% |
Clerical/administrative assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for clerical/administrative assistants are professional, education and retail.
Clerical/administrative assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Professional | 18% |
| Fortune 500 | 13% |
| Education | 12% |
| Retail | 8% |
| Finance | 6% |
| Health Care | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Insurance | 5% |
| Transportation | 4% |
| Government | 4% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Clerical/administrative assistant turnover and employment statistics
Clerical/administrative assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for clerical/administrative assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Clerical/administrative assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Clerical/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% |
Average clerical/administrative assistant tenure
The average clerical/administrative assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 7,293 clerical/administrative assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Clerical/administrative assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 28% |
| 1-2 years | 34% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 11% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 10% |
Clerical/administrative assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of clerical/administrative assistants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Clerical/Administrative Assistant | 5.70% | - |
| Clinical Secretary | 9.17% | 113,707 |
| Executive Assistant To General Manager | 10.06% | 11,198 |
| Senior Legal Secretary | 14.76% | 11,223 |
Similar clerical/administrative assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Secretary | 9.17% | 113,707 |
| Executive Assistant To General Manager | 10.06% | 11,198 |
| Senior Legal Secretary | 14.76% | 11,223 |
Foreign languages spoken by clerical/administrative assistants
The most common foreign language among clerical/administrative assistants is Spanish at 67.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 5.6% and Russian is the third-most popular at 2.8%.
- Spanish, 67.7%
- French, 5.6%
- Russian, 2.8%
- Portuguese, 2.5%
- Chinese, 2.5%
- Other, 18.9%
Clerical/administrative assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 67.7% |
| French | 5.6% |
| Russian | 2.8% |
| Portuguese | 2.5% |
| Chinese | 2.5% |
| Other | 18.9% |
