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Job outlook for executive secretaries in the United States
Executive secretary job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected executive secretary job growth rate is -8% from 2018-2028.
About -286,900 new jobs for executive secretaries are projected over the next decade.
Executive secretary salaries have increased 13% for executive secretaries in the last 5 years.
There are over 227,748 executive secretaries currently employed in the United States.
There are 103,802 active executive secretary job openings in the US.
The average executive secretary salary is $46,594.
Are executive secretary jobs in demand?
Executive secretary job and salary trends over time
Executive secretary jobs over time
Executive secretary job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 227,748 | 0.07% |
| 2020 | 232,627 | 0.07% |
| 2019 | 255,541 | 0.08% |
| 2018 | 271,096 | 0.08% |
| 2017 | 282,422 | 0.09% |
Average executive secretary salary over time
Executive secretary salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,594 | $22.40 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $44,955 | $21.61 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $43,811 | $21.06 | +3.4% |
| 2023 | $42,386 | $20.38 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $41,241 | $19.83 | +4.7% |
Executive secretary jobs by state
Most common states for executive secretaries
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 293 | 42% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,995 | 29% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 264 | 25% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,243 | 22% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 293 | 22% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 131 | 21% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,680 | 20% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 215 | 20% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 189 | 20% |
| 10 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,412 | 19% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,070 | 19% |
| 12 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 591 | 19% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 142 | 19% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,597 | 18% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,094 | 18% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 338 | 18% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,194 | 17% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 578 | 16% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 267 | 16% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 93 | 16% |
Most common cities for executive secretaries
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dubuque | 2 | 3% | $35,407 |
| 2 | American Fork | 1 | 3% | $33,446 |
| 3 | Brighton | 1 | 3% | $41,164 |
| 4 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $47,709 |
| 5 | Alexandria | 1 | 2% | $30,260 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City | 2 | 1% | $33,193 |
| 7 | Akron | 1 | 1% | $51,241 |
| 8 | Amarillo | 1 | 1% | $39,210 |
| 9 | New York | 4 | 0% | $66,893 |
| 10 | Philadelphia | 3 | 0% | $52,746 |
| 11 | Washington | 3 | 0% | $58,582 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City | 2 | 0% | $30,145 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $42,549 |
| 14 | Bakersfield | 1 | 0% | $58,207 |
| 15 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $60,551 |
| 16 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $30,362 |
| 17 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $38,726 |
| 18 | Columbus | 1 | 0% | $46,269 |
Executive Secretary job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of executive secretary experts
Ohio University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
California State University Channel Islands
Ohio University - Lancaster Campus
University of Iowa
College of Charleston
Meredith College
What skills will help Executive Secretaries earn the most?
Allison White: I'll put professionalism at the top of the list, and then specialized skills come second regarding salary. The medical secretary used to be the one to earn top dollar. Now that there are Medical Assisting programs and licenses, the student must seek the special skills in terminology and clinical service from that degree to earn top dollar in the medical field. Employers want office skills (filing, customer service, scheduling, etc.) and clinical skills (vitals, patient intake, registration, etc.). Still, I recommend that those who are inexperienced seek skills and licenses in the area of their personal interest (law office, government office, medical office, education, and more). I took courses in legal terminology and legal office procedures while completing my associate's degree. I also pursued a business analyst certification and the MOS certifications early on. Later, I continued my education by earning a bachelor's degree in a dual major (business administration and marketing).
What skills stand out on Executive Secretary resumes?
Allison White: Knowledge of spreadsheets software such as MS Excel is a commonly sought-after skill. Employers want word processing and spreadsheet skills but often say they want high school graduates and pay accordingly. These skills aren't always taught in high school. Those in the field should seek these skills. Additionally, medical and legal assistants have highly sought after. Terminology courses for these specialized areas are sometimes offered at the vocational schools but are usually offered at the post-secondary level.
What soft skills should all Executive Secretaries possess?
Allison White: Employers have told me repeatedly that soft skills are often the most important. They will ask for my reference after I've gotten to know a student and been able to identify their communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. They want someone to take the initiative yet know when to ask questions. Customer service skills and confidentiality were also voiced by our internship supervisors. Verbal and non-verbal communication is a must. The applicant must be able to write well!!
What hard/technical skills are most important for Executive Secretaries?
Allison White: In addition to production software skills, including MS Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, we often taught database skills using MS Access. Every employer has an employee database and a customer/client database that requires input and sometimes maintenance by office personnel. Keyboarding (65+ wpm), basic bookkeeping/accounting, and filing skills are a must.
Christi Patton Luks
Professor (NTT) and Associate Chair for Academic AffairsMissouri University of Science & Technology
Linda & Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Executive Secretary job market given the pandemic?
Christi Patton Luks: I think that the pandemic has proven to everyone that online education can work. I think this will increase the number of undergraduates that want to take a course or two online while they are working on internship or co-op positions and professionals returning to school virtually for additional credentials and training. Some engineering jobs have been moved to work-from-home successfully, but many still need to be on site. Flexibility will continue, however.
Amanda Carpenter
DirectorCalifornia State University Channel Islands
Department of Career Development and Alumni Engagement
What technical skills for an Executive Secretary stand out to employers?
Amanda Carpenter: -Data analytics skills are critical technical skills that stand out to employers in today's market. According to NACE (2018), the use of data analytics is projected to have the most significant impact on an organization's operational efficiency and revenue generation.
-Source (NACE): www.naceweb.org
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Executive Secretary job market given the pandemic?
Amanda Carpenter: -Market competition- We are seeing an increase in the number of applicants per position, making entry-level employment opportunities extremely competitive. New graduates may be competing for positions with professionals who have significantly more work experience. This means, new graduates must stand out in the applicant pool distinguishing strengths and skills related to the position.
-Recruiting strategy- Employers are adjusting their recruiting strategies in response to the pandemic with more recruiters opting to source candidates virtually. In result, candidates need to polish interview skills in a virtual environment and be prepared to interview in 1:1 and group settings virtually. Employers want to see how candidates respond in these challenging situations. Demonstrating resiliency, adaptability, and the ability to pivot are key skills to demonstrate during these times.
-Remote work- a significant increase in remote work positions opening doors for candidates to consider applying for roles outside of their geographical areas to including international and across the United States.
Brandy Bailey
Career CoachOhio University - Lancaster Campus
Student Services, Career Services
What soft skills should all Executive Secretaries possess?
Brandy Bailey: Soft skills may vary depending on the employer, industry, and personal opinions. My biggest ones are communication skills, adaptability, self-awareness, teamwork, problem-solving, intercultural competency, creativity or innovation, and time management.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Executive Secretaries?
Brandy Bailey: Take a look at the job description for which you are applying, what certifications/licenses/courses do they list? If you personally have any of them that are included in the job description, be sure to include them on your resume. Tailoring your resume, including your skills and experiences, to the job description will have the biggest impact on your job prospects. If you have taken a course that the employer deems as necessary to be able to perform the job, list it on your resume and talk about it during your interview. If you are not quite ready to graduate and apply for jobs, you may still have some time to squeeze in a course or experience that will meet the qualifications of a job that you are interested in applying for in the future. Do your research and tailor your resume and experiences to the job you are applying for to increase your job prospects.
What type of skills will young Executive Secretaries need?
Brian Lai Ph.D.: They need to be able to write well, specifically be able to clearly summarize and analyze ideas, policies, and arguments in a succinct manner. They will need at least a working understanding of data analysis techniques, if not some ability to analyze data. In the field of IR, the ability to network and work in a group environment will be important.
What experience really stands out on Executive Secretary resumes?
Jacob Craig Ph.D.: I believe strongly in dexterity and a language of expertise. That means that if a student can show they can adapt to new demands by learning a new way of working, learning about a new audience, learning how to address a new purpose, learning a new genre or style, and learning a new technology, that employee attractive. Especially at the entry-level, the ability to learn and adapt is valuable. Being able to talk about their experience using a persuasive vocabulary is often useful. For instance, if students can describe their approach to communication without using cliches (short and sweet, clear) and something along the lines of purpose, audience, situation, genre, medium--that's persuasive.
What experience really stands out on Executive Secretary resumes?
Angela Robbins Ph.D.: History majors-and in fact, all students in the Humanities-practice skills in the classroom which have real-world, job performance implications, as laid out above. In my experience, students need to do a better job of communicating on their resumes what exactly those skills are so they do stand out. Job-seekers might list critical thinking skills, leadership skills, and the ability to work on a team on their resumes, for example, but for them to be able to point to specific examples from their classes and projects, and to be able to talk about those in interviews, is especially valuable. Internships also really stand out, because employers want to know that students have practiced these skills outside the classroom and have gained real-world experience, too.
What type of skills will young Executive Secretaries need?
Angela Robbins Ph.D.: History majors are in high demand in government, business, and non-profits because of the knowledge and skills they gain in the classroom. History majors, in particular, are especially good at contextualizing-that is, explaining how an event or discussion fits within the big picture. This includes how things that are going on today-such as the Capitol riot on January 6-connects to the Constitution, the balance of powers, the way democracy works, and related issues such as the implications of propaganda and misinformation. This goes well beyond merely expressing an opinion or debating two sides of an issue. Students of history do their research and practice skills of analysis, collecting and scrutinizing evidence rather than taking something at face value or only relying on a single source. We take sources apart to evaluate the credentials of their creators and search for bias. We examine sources from various creators so we take into account multiple experiences and points of view. Then we synthesize-or bring the sources together-in order to communicate what it all means. These skills are desired by employers and translate well into many careers and work environments. Seeking good evidence to answer questions and solve problems, whether that's in the classroom today or working with clients later, is a skill that employers highly value.
Students are practicing other skills that are necessary to success in the workplace, whether that will be in person or online. Time management, seeing a project through from start to finish, hosting and contributing to meetings, working on a team-whether it's two people or ten-and creating appropriate types of presentations to communicate ideas are all things our students can tell their employers they will come in with so they can hit the ground running. In addition, our majors develop self-awareness, empathy, and an appreciation of diverse opinions and approaches to problems through investigation of the life experiences of historical figures and their classroom discussions with classmates. Certainly, every employer wants you to learn the specifics within their sector, but these skills are fairly universal and will benefit majors as they move from the classroom to career.