Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a clerical/administrative assistant and how to become one
A lot of companies rely heavily on the clerical/administrative assistants. In fact, the need for the position is so high that nearly every industry employs clerical/administrative assistant. So you shouldn't be worried about finding a job. That part is easy.
A lot of what you'll be doing day-to-day will depend on what industry you decide to go into. So, make sure you pick an industry that's interesting to you, otherwise you might get bored. Sure, it's a lot of administrative work, like scheduling meetings and typing up reports, but don't underestimate this job.
This is a great job for someone who can handle the pressure of being one of the most important team members. Your most important duty as a clerical/administrative assistant is to make sure the company's office is running smoothly. It's no secret that this can be a hard job for some companies.
What general advice would you give to a clerical/administrative assistant?
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
Professor, West Virginia State University
Avg. Salary $30,983
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -8%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%
Asian 3.85%
Black or African American 9.38%
Hispanic or Latino 16.42%
Unknown 3.88%
White 65.75%
Genderfemale 85.54%
male 14.46%
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
Clerical/administrative assistant career paths
Key steps to become a clerical/administrative assistant
Explore clerical/administrative assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific clerical/administrative assistant skills
Skills Percentages Data Entry 30.96% Word Processing 17.53% Payroll 13.54% Customer Service 6.65% Scheduling Appointments 4.31% Complete relevant clerical/administrative assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clerical/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 clerical/administrative assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clerical/administrative assistant resumes.Gain additional clerical/administrative assistant certifications
More About CertificationsClerical/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 clerical/administrative assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for clerical/administrative assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).
Research clerical/administrative assistant duties and responsibilities
- Work with QuickBooks to manage store invoices and accounts.
- Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA.
- Support medical doctors, manage sensitive and confidential records pertaining to high risk patients with emphasis on accuracy.
- Check patients in and out, EMR, collect co-pays, answer phones, and take patients to exam rooms.
Prepare your clerical/administrative assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clerical/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 clerical/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 clerical/administrative assistant resume templates
Build a professional clerical/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 clerical/administrative assistant resume.
Apply for clerical/administrative assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a clerical/administrative 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 clerical/administrative assistant job
Are you a clerical/administrative assistant?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average clerical/administrative assistant salary
The average clerical/administrative assistant salary in the United States is $30,983 per year or $15 per hour. Clerical/administrative assistant salaries range between $24,000 and $38,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do clerical/administrative assistants rate their job?
Clerical/administrative assistant reviews
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.
phones - because of my accent
everything except phones : Meeting,greeting, customer service, interviewing, on boarding, recruiting, presenting, etc.
Updated January 8, 2025
