Post job

What is a personal assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
introduction image

A personal assistant provides administrative, organizational, and personal support to an individual or group. They manage schedules, arrange appointments, handle correspondence, make travel arrangements, and help their employer's life run smoothly. Personal assistants often manage budgets, conduct research, and handle confidential information. They may also oversee other household or office staff. The role requires communication, problem-solving, and time management skills. Personal assistants work in corporate offices, the entertainment industry, nonprofits, and homes.

ScorePersonal AssistantUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $40,026

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.89%

Asian 7.38%

Black or African American 11.02%

Hispanic or Latino 17.05%

Unknown 5.83%

White 57.85%

Gender

female 80.69%

male 19.31%

Age - 51
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 - 51
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a personal assistant?

Pros

  • Potential for networking and career advancement

  • Competitive salary and benefits packages

  • Opportunities for travel and potentially all-expenses-paid trips

  • High level of job satisfaction from helping others

  • Potential for bonuses or other perks

Cons

  • Limited job security, as personal assistants are often first to be cut in budget cuts

  • Potential for difficult or demanding clients

  • Limited opportunities for creativity or decision-making

  • Potential for low pay or lack of benefits in entry-level positions

  • Limited opportunities for growth or advancement within the field

Personal assistant career paths

Key steps to become a personal assistant

  1. Explore personal assistant education requirements

    Most common personal assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    40.6 %

    High School Diploma

    22.7 %

    Associate

    19.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific personal assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    RUN Errands28.71%
    Companionship7.94%
    Scheduling Appointments5.98%
    Meal Prep4.94%
    Household Chores4.84%
  3. Complete relevant personal assistant training and internships

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

    Personal 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 personal assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

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

    More About Certifications
  5. Research personal assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all errands including dry cleaning, pharmacy, and personal shopping for groceries, clothing, and gifts.
    • Manage daily operations of the gallery including budgeting, small payroll and reconciling business accounts, eliminating off-site accounting fees.
    • Maintain company books including A/R, A/P, bank statements and other reports.
    • Handle payroll, phones, A/R, A/P, and general accounting procedures.
  6. Prepare your personal assistant resume

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

    Build a professional personal 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 personal assistant resume.
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
    Personal Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for personal assistant jobs

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

Zippi

Are you a personal assistant?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average personal assistant salary

The average personal assistant salary in the United States is $40,026 per year or $19 per hour. Personal assistant salaries range between $26,000 and $60,000 per year.

Average personal assistant salary
$40,026 Yearly
$19.24 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do personal assistants rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Personal assistant reviews

profile
5.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

They just have to give information to others as Phone calls or through other ways


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

Observing clients master new skills and interacting with client on daily.Providing new challenges and goals specific to client abilities.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Cons

When they are scared because of experiences they may have encountered from someone else.


Working as a personal assistant? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Personal assistant FAQs

Search for personal assistant jobs

Personal assistant jobs by state

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.

Browse personal care and attendants jobs