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Job outlook for principal secretaries in the United States
Principal secretary job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected principal secretary job growth rate is -8% from 2018-2028.
About -286,900 new jobs for principal secretaries are projected over the next decade.
Principal secretary salaries have increased 12% for principal secretaries in the last 5 years.
There are over 193,417 principal secretaries currently employed in the United States.
There are 46,207 active principal secretary job openings in the US.
The average principal secretary salary is $33,699.
Are principal secretary jobs in demand?
Principal secretary job and salary trends over time
Principal secretary jobs over time
Principal secretary job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 193,417 | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 197,492 | 0.06% |
| 2019 | 216,971 | 0.06% |
| 2018 | 230,192 | 0.07% |
| 2017 | 239,805 | 0.07% |
Average principal secretary salary over time
Principal secretary salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,699 | $16.20 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $32,693 | $15.72 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $31,774 | $15.28 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $30,871 | $14.84 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $30,204 | $14.52 | +2.7% |
Principal secretary jobs by state
Most common states for principal secretaries
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 199 | 19% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 109 | 17% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,111 | 16% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 215 | 16% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 961 | 13% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 924 | 11% |
| 7 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 941 | 10% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 108 | 10% |
| 9 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 544 | 9% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 511 | 9% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 508 | 9% |
| 12 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 365 | 9% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 581 | 8% |
| 14 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 294 | 8% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 948 | 7% |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 383 | 7% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 128 | 7% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 122 | 7% |
| 19 | Delaware | 961,939 | 64 | 7% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 34 | 6% |
Most common cities for principal secretaries
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freeport | 1 | 4% | $33,029 |
| 2 | New Milford | 1 | 4% | $38,946 |
| 3 | Waterford | 2 | 3% | $31,664 |
| 4 | Teaneck | 1 | 3% | $33,082 |
| 5 | Broken Arrow | 2 | 2% | $28,364 |
| 6 | Dubuque | 1 | 2% | $29,955 |
| 7 | Ellicott City | 1 | 2% | $32,418 |
| 8 | Wheaton | 1 | 2% | $32,938 |
| 9 | Brownsville | 1 | 1% | $30,889 |
| 10 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $30,496 |
Principal Secretary job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of principal secretary experts
Ohio University
Missouri University of Science & Technology
California State University Channel Islands
College of Charleston
What skills will help Principal 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 Principal 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 Principal 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 Principal 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's a good job out of college for Principal Secretaries?
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.
Amanda Carpenter
DirectorCalifornia State University Channel Islands
Department of Career Development and Alumni Engagement
What technical skills for a Principal 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 experience really stands out on Principal 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.