Skip navigation

Secretaries & Administrative Assistants

Also called: Secretary, Administrative Assistant, Administrative Secretary, Office Assistant

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Air Force.

What they do:
Perform routine clerical and administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.
On the job, you would:
  • Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
  • Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
  • Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.

Knowledge

Business
  • administrative services
  • customer service
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • writing things for co-workers or customers
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Social
  • looking for ways to help people
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions

Abilities

Verbal
  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by speaking
Ideas and Logic
  • order or arrange things
  • notice when problems happen

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
data, detail, and regular routines.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Independence
  • Concern for Others

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Database software
  • Microsoft Access
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
high school diploma or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship

Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$31,870
per year, on average
Check out my state Local Salary Info Find Jobs

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about secretaries and administrative assistants.