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What is an executive assistant/office manager and how to become one
Behind every effective executive is an efficient assistant. Yes, that is an original quote by yours sincerely. Executive assistants do not operate like traditional office administrators. Think of their role as gatekeeper and a schedule expediter for whomever they are working for. So, this requires quite a bit of internal project management and organizational skills.
While an office manager deals with general administrative tasks such as answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, and handling office supplies, an executive assistant deals with specialized tasks that support an executive team. This includes assisting in the document review process, preparing financial reports, and recording meeting minutes.
Employers require both executive assistants and office managers to have a high school diploma at minimum, but a bachelor's degree relating to business is preferred. Besides that, at least five years of relevant work experience serving senior management needs to be demonstrated by an executive assistant. This role earns, on average, $23 per hour. By contrast, office managers need to have at least two to three years of work experience and earns, on average, $22 per hour.
Avg. Salary $59,405
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -8%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%
Asian 5.00%
Black or African American 7.62%
Hispanic or Latino 11.22%
Unknown 4.80%
White 70.97%
Genderfemale 88.08%
male 11.92%
Age - 51American 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 - 51Stress level is moderate
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Executive assistant/office manager career paths
Key steps to become an executive assistant/office manager
Explore executive assistant/office manager education requirements
Start to develop specific executive assistant/office manager skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 9.81% Financial Reports 7.96% Office Equipment 6.12% PowerPoint 6.11% Office Management 4.95% Complete relevant executive assistant/office manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New executive assistant/office managers 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 executive assistant/office manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real executive assistant/office manager resumes.Research executive assistant/office manager duties and responsibilities
- Manage insurance claims, EOBS, AR, collections and billing.
- Manage all accounting: AP, AR, commission payments, deposits, wire transfers, invoicing, and monthly reconciliations.
- Manage the SVP's calendar with emphasis on proactive planning as well as change and flexibility to accommodate changing client needs.
- Manage employee rate/benefits calculation tables and calculate employee PTO accounting.
Get executive assistant/office manager experience
Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become an executive assistant/office manager. The most common roles before becoming an executive assistant/office manager include executive assistant, administrative assistant team lead and office manager.Prepare your executive assistant/office manager resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your executive assistant/office manager 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 executive assistant/office manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable executive assistant/office manager resume templates
Build a professional executive assistant/office manager 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 executive assistant/office manager resume.
Apply for executive assistant/office manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an executive assistant/office manager 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 executive assistant/office manager job
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Average executive assistant/office manager salary
The average executive assistant/office manager salary in the United States is $59,405 per year or $29 per hour. Executive assistant/office manager salaries range between $39,000 and $89,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do executive assistant/office managers rate their job?
Executive assistant/office manager reviews
Depending on the org & boss, can be a nice variety & challenges
Being able to motivate administrative personnel to do their jobs well and meet deadlines.
Having to reprimand personnel when duties are neglected.
I enjoy the diversity of assignments.
Micromanagement from our umbrella agency.
Updated January 8, 2025
