Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
SOC code 43-6014 · O*NET-SOC 43-6014.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Office and administration
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects numerous job openings for this occupation
Secretaries and administrative assistants run the practical core of an office: scheduling, correspondence, records, meeting logistics. The general role typically needs a diploma plus office software skills; the legal, medical and executive specialisations each pay more and have their own pages on this site.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$47,540
a year
Hourly
$22.86
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$49,350
$23.73 per hour
Middle 50%
$38,830 – $58,000
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$33,280 – $66,350
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
1,706,790
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $33,280
- $16.00/hr
- 25th percentile
- $38,830
- $18.67/hr
- Median percentile
- $47,540
- $22.86/hr
- 75th percentile
- $58,000
- $27.89/hr
- 90th percentile
- $66,350
- $31.90/hr
What do secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive do?
Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.
The tasks that matter most day to 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.
- Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
- Perform payroll functions, such as maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.
- Collect and deposit money into accounts, disburse funds from cash accounts to pay bills or invoices, keep records of collections and disbursements, and ensure accounts are balanced.
- 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 to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 50% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)50%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree22%
- Bachelor's Degree11%
- Some College Courses10%
Common questions
How much does a secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive earn?
The national median is $47,540 a year. The full range runs from $33,280 at the 10th percentile to $66,350 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Critical Thinking3.0/5
Knowledge areas
- Administrative4.5/5
- English Language4.3/5
- Computers and Electronics3.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.8/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
- Communications and Media2.8/5
- Economics and Accounting2.8/5
Transferable strengths: Service Orientation, Time Management, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness.