Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

What you'd actually do

• Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
• Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
• Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.
• Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
• Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
• Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

The work splits time indoors and out; you're around people constantly. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 1.9% of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are organized and detail-focused, take-charge and people-focused.

Related careers

• Brokerage Clerks
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
• New Accounts Clerks
• Bill and Account Collectors
• Meter Readers, Utilities

Quick questions

How much does a secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive make?

The median pay is $22.86 per hour — roughly $47,500 a year, with the real range running from about $16.00/hr (10th percentile) to $31.90/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive?

The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive actually do all day?

Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals. Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs. Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.