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What is a front desk administrative assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
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A facility's front desk is the reception area. This is what guests approach the moment they enter the building or office premises. People expect that the front desk would be able to help them with their concerns, be it directions or appointment-setting. There are also different administrative tasks required from the front desk personnel. This is why front desk administrative assistants are helpful to the company.

Front desk administrative assistants manage the paperwork and other administrative needs of the front desk. This may include filing paperwork, storing documents in their proper cabinets, and managing communication lines. They may also be assigned to manage the office calendar and meeting room bookings. Being a front desk administrative assistant is similar to being a vital cog in a machine. It may seem like a small component, but without it, the machine will not run smoothly.

If you have strong organizational skills and coordination skills, you might want to start out in this role. Of course, you need to have the patience to go through seemingly mundane days, especially if there are no visitors. Nonetheless, this is a good stepping-stone for aspiring office managers.

What general advice would you give to a Front Desk 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.
ScoreFront Desk Administrative AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $33,037

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.0

Growth Rate -8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.83%

Black or African American 9.26%

Hispanic or Latino 16.21%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.10%

Gender

female 89.97%

male 10.03%

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

Front Desk Administrative Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a front desk administrative assistant

  1. Explore front desk administrative assistant education requirements

    Most common front desk administrative assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    39.6 %

    Associate

    26.8 %

    High School Diploma

    18.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific front desk administrative assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service15.49%
    Patients11.52%
    Data Entry8.23%
    Phone Calls8.02%
    Front Desk Operations6.89%
  3. Complete relevant front desk administrative assistant training and internships

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

    Front desk 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 front desk administrative assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for front desk administrative assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research front desk administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage day-to-day operations including scheduling and coordinating appointments, verify patient insurance, prepare correspondences between medical providers and their patients.
    • Process member and team member paperwork; including member cancellations, updates, new hires/terminations/status changes, and payroll paperwork.
    • Monitor and complete payroll information.
    • Demonstrate great initiative in assisting tech team with minor technical issues and create PowerPoint presentations for business strategic purposes.
  6. Prepare your front desk administrative assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your front desk 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 front desk 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 Front Desk Administrative Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Front Desk 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 Front Desk Administrative Assistant resume.
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  7. Apply for front desk administrative assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a front desk 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 Front Desk Administrative Assistant Job

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Average front desk administrative assistant salary

The average Front Desk Administrative Assistant salary in the United States is $33,037 per year or $16 per hour. Front desk administrative assistant salaries range between $27,000 and $39,000 per year.

Average Front Desk Administrative Assistant Salary
$33,037 Yearly
$15.88 hourly

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How do front desk administrative assistants rate their job?

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Front Desk Administrative Assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Pros

Good work life balance, low stress and responsibility

Cons

Low pay, lack of progression


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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,


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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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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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