How To Become A Senior Executive Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

Q: How much does an executive assistant to a CEO make?

An executive assistant to a CEO makes between $50,000 and $95,000 per year. To attain a salary on the higher end of this range, several factors may be involved. Although no degree is strictly necessary to become an executive assistant to a CEO, a degree in a field related to business, communications, or technology may be helpful.

Q: Is executive assistant a senior position?

Yes, an executive assistant is a senior position. A helpful way to think about this is that, depending on the company, an executive assistant provides both general task management as well as acting as an expert in project management.

Q: What comes after senior executive assistant?

The chief of staff comes after senior executive assistant. The following career step after senior executive assistant is the chief of staff. This position allows them to take more responsibility and move into higher executive-level roles.

Q: What is the difference between an executive assistant and a senior executive assistant?

The difference between an executive assistant and a senior executive assistant is the level of support that they provide. A helpful way to think about this is that an administrative assistant provides general task management, while a senior executive assistant is an expert in project management.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be an executive assistant?

The qualifications you need to be an executive assistant are typically a high school diploma, minimum. However, most executive assistant positions, particularly higher-paying ones, require a bachelor's degree.

What is a senior executive assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Assume a client from a company is looking for executives to inquire about valuable information. Who is he/she going to ask for a meeting with them? The Senior Executive Assistant. The assistants act as a liaison between the company's clients and executives. The clients need senior executive assistants to arrange a meeting scheduled with the company's executives.

The list of their job duties includes: acting as a communication link between the employees and executives, coordinating the everyday calendar of senior managers, planning events and appointments with customers/clients They also handle the company's administrative tasks to represent executive management while making sure that the business operations are running smoothly.

In general, expert assistants are found in various companies, industries, and massive corporations. This job can undoubtedly help you earn $24.19 per hour, on average. But it may increase, depending on the previous experience they have. So, if you are willing to pursue a career in this job title get a bachelor's or associate's degree in business.

ScoreSenior Executive AssistantUS Average

Salary

5.2

Avg. Salary $66,419

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

3.6

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.40%

Asian 5.00%

Black or African American 7.62%

Hispanic or Latino 11.22%

Unknown 4.80%

White 70.97%

Gender

female 89.66%

male 10.34%

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

3.6

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.7

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a senior executive assistant

Explore senior executive assistant education requirements

Most common senior executive assistant degrees

Bachelor's

60.7 %

Associate

22.7 %

Master's

6.7 %

Start to develop specific senior executive assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
PowerPoint	12.47%
Customer Service	5.03%
Work Ethic	4.69%
Administrative Tasks	4.21%
SR	4.18%

Complete relevant senior executive assistant training and internships

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

Research senior executive assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage processes to nominate and elect board candidates at the annual meeting, and provide administrative support to CEO and CMO.
Manage the SVP's calendar and independently scheduling/rescheduling meetings.
Manage all administrative responsibilities of CMO including confidential materials and business communications with all levels of management.
Update staff Medicare, medical, and personal records.

Get senior executive assistant experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior executive assistant. The most common roles before becoming a senior executive assistant include executive assistant, administrative assistant team lead and assistant to executive vice president.

Prepare your senior executive assistant resume

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

Build a professional senior executive 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 senior executive assistant resume.

Apply for senior executive assistant jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a senior executive assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior executive assistant job

Gulsum Ajukajeva

Senior Executive Assistant

My story is bland. I graduated from university as a financier. For good results at the university, I got an internship. I worked for half a year as a junior assistant to a financier. Later, they offered to become a senior assistant. Then, a vacancy became available for an assistant to the company's president. I thought for a long time because this was a different area of responsibility and other skills, but I agreed; after three years, there were three departments under my leadership: the financial department, the hiring department and the marketing department. I worked for five years, got married, and ended her career. My husband was against me working. I devoted myself to my family; first, we had a son and then a daughter. Then, was a complicated divorce due to my husband's infidelity and then depression. It seemed to me that I couldn't do anything anymore. Then, it turned out that in 6 years, the labour market had changed a lot, and my track record and work experience had already become an old book. I had to start all over again, but I was already completely broken and with two children, and I was already 30 years old. And this is age!
There were a lot of falls and tears. Plus, my ex husband constantly put psychological pressure on me that I had no money, but he had a lot of it and would take the children for himself. I started brushing up on my skills again. I took an accounting course to brush up on my skills. I started working with tutors and remembering languages: English and Italian. After all, my native language is Estonian. I started attending seminars on marketing, document flow,cash flow,recruiting services and others.. I cleared my social circle of toxic people and surrounded myself with only the right people, and my career took off again. 8 years have passed, and I am now who I am. My ex husband doesn't dare to bother me anymore; my children are with me and studying well. I got married for the second time. And I have a favourite job and career.

How do senior executive assistants rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Senior executive assistant reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2024

Pros

Depending on the org & boss, can be a nice variety & challenges

Cons

Depending on the org & boss, position can become stale & boxed in

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

Working on special projects and data collection for division chief medical officer

Cons

Scheduling meetings

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

I enjoy the diversity of assignments.

Cons

Micromanagement from our umbrella agency.

Senior executive assistant FAQs

What is a senior executive assistant and how to become one

Senior executive assistant career paths

Key steps to become a senior executive assistant

Explore senior executive assistant education requirements

Most common senior executive assistant degrees

Start to develop specific senior executive assistant skills

Complete relevant senior executive assistant training and internships

Research senior executive assistant duties and responsibilities

Get senior executive assistant experience

Prepare your senior executive assistant resume

Choose from 10+ customizable senior executive assistant resume templates

Apply for senior executive assistant jobs

How did you land your first senior executive assistant job

Average senior executive assistant salary

How do senior executive assistants rate their job?

Senior executive assistant reviews

Senior executive assistant FAQs

How much does an executive assistant to a CEO make?

Is executive assistant a senior position?

What comes after senior executive assistant?

What is the difference between an executive assistant and a senior executive assistant?

What qualifications do you need to be an executive assistant?

Search for senior executive assistant jobs