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What is a junior administrative assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Junior administrative assistants are responsible for the performance of administrative roles to uphold the business operations and requirements. As a junior administrative assistant, you are responsible for handling business and financial transactions. Also, it is a part of your duties to write and fill reports. At times, you could be required to answer the concerns and inquiries of customers. Moreover, you could also be responsible for scheduling appointments, planning travel arrangements, and monitoring office inventories. Furthermore, as a junior administrative assistant, you must be able to sort and document files with accuracy and update information on the database.

You must possess skills such as interpersonal skills, writing skills, and organizational skills. Organizational skills allow you to work efficiently through every project while still keeping a clean space. With interpersonal skills, you can efficiently communicate with various people concerning your ideas, thoughts, etc. In the United States, junior administrative assistants make an average salary of $31,436 annually.

What general advice would you give to a junior 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.
ScoreJunior Administrative AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $32,940

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 3.82%

Black or African American 9.23%

Hispanic or Latino 16.16%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.19%

Gender

female 82.69%

male 17.31%

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

Junior administrative assistant career paths

Key steps to become a junior administrative assistant

  1. Explore junior administrative assistant education requirements

    Most common junior administrative assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    53.4 %

    Associate

    22.6 %

    High School Diploma

    12.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific junior administrative assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Data Entry16.67%
    Word Processing11.02%
    Telephone Calls7.81%
    HR7.69%
    Administrative Tasks7.58%
  3. Complete relevant junior administrative assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New junior 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 junior administrative assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real junior administrative assistant resumes.
  4. Research junior administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

    • File and manage HRIS and payroll systems, form tracking, personnel file management, employee relations and benefits.
    • Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
    • Encode information into accounting systems or computer programs (QuickBooks).
    • Handle all payroll responsibilities and distribution of commission checks.
  5. Prepare your junior administrative assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your junior 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 junior 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 junior administrative assistant resume templates

    Build a professional junior 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 junior administrative assistant resume.
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
    Junior Administrative Assistant Resume
  6. Apply for junior administrative assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a junior 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 junior administrative assistant job

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Average junior administrative assistant salary

The average junior administrative assistant salary in the United States is $32,940 per year or $16 per hour. Junior administrative assistant salaries range between $25,000 and $41,000 per year.

Average junior administrative assistant salary
$32,940Ā Yearly
$15.84 hourly

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How do junior administrative assistants rate their job?

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Junior administrative assistant reviews

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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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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

phones - because of my accent

Pros

everything except phones : Meeting,greeting, customer service, interviewing, on boarding, recruiting, presenting, etc.


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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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