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Job outlook for personal assistants/office assistants in the United States
Personal assistant/office assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected personal assistant/office assistant job growth rate is -8% from 2018-2028.
About -286,900 new jobs for personal assistants/office assistants are projected over the next decade.
Personal assistant/office assistant salaries have increased 12% for personal assistants/office assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 133,655 personal assistants/office assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 82,379 active personal assistant/office assistant job openings in the US.
The average personal assistant/office assistant salary is $53,954.
Are personal assistant/office assistant jobs in demand?
Personal assistant/office assistant job and salary trends over time
Personal assistant/office assistant jobs over time
Personal assistant/office assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 133,655 | 0.04% |
| 2020 | 142,767 | 0.04% |
| 2019 | 152,522 | 0.05% |
| 2018 | 155,221 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | 156,477 | 0.05% |
Average personal assistant/office assistant salary over time
Personal assistant/office assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $53,954 | $25.94 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $52,343 | $25.17 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $50,871 | $24.46 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $49,427 | $23.76 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $48,358 | $23.25 | +2.7% |
Personal assistant/office assistant jobs by state
Most common states for personal assistants/office assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 193 | 28% |
| 2 | Alaska | 739,795 | 160 | 22% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,221 | 18% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 171 | 16% |
| 5 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 531 | 15% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 114 | 15% |
| 7 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 778 | 14% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 597 | 14% |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 260 | 14% |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,691 | 13% |
| 11 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,461 | 13% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,132 | 13% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 955 | 13% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 726 | 13% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 410 | 13% |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 172 | 13% |
| 17 | Vermont | 623,657 | 84 | 13% |
| 18 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 2,481 | 12% |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 708 | 12% |
| 20 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 704 | 12% |
Most common cities for personal assistants/office assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark | 1 | 3% | $48,602 |
| 2 | Greenwich | 1 | 2% | $77,715 |
| 3 | Manchester | 1 | 1% | $62,949 |
| 4 | Naperville | 1 | 1% | $51,420 |
| 5 | West Palm Beach | 1 | 1% | $51,521 |
| 6 | Albuquerque | 1 | 0% | $53,217 |
| 7 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $51,836 |
| 8 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $56,267 |
| 9 | San Antonio | 1 | 0% | $51,837 |
Personal Assistant/Office Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of personal assistant/office assistant experts
Ohio University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
Dixie State University
What skills stand out on Personal Assistant/Office Assistant 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 Personal Assistants/Office Assistants 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 Personal Assistants/Office Assistants?
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 Personal Assistant/Office Assistant 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.
What's a good job out of college for Personal Assistants/Office Assistants?
Christi Patton Luks: A good job out of college is one that can be adapted to the individual's skills and interests and encourages them to stretch. Frequently, students think they want to work in a particular type of job. Once they have it, they discover that it was not what they thought it would be. Many companies rotate new employees through a variety of positions. Those are great for helping people find their own hidden talents. I know that I have discovered abilities that I would not have even attempted when I was 20.
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.
Department Chair and Associate Professor of EnglishDixie State University
English Department
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Personal Assistants/Office Assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.: The great thing about a degree in English is that graduates can find work anywhere: teaching, freelance writing, technical writing, content production, editing, reporting-you name it. There are ample jobs in small towns and large cities in all of these areas. English degrees are also highly valued in a variety of jobs-such as sales, public relations, marketing, and paralegal work-because employers know these applicants, from day one, will have strong skills in writing, communication, critical thinking, and creative thinking.