What is the salary and career path for a administrative assistant?
Administrative assistants are reported under Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (SOC 43-6014), a close BLS match. Its OEWS May 2025 median is $47,540 a year ($22.86 an hour), from $33,280 at the 10th percentile up to $66,350 at the 90th. BLS projects this code to decline about 1.6% over 2024–2034 — an outright drop as software automates clerical tasks — though roughly 202,800 openings a year still come from turnover in a very large occupation. A high school diploma with office and software skills is the typical entry point.
- Administrative Assistants earn a national median $47,540/yr ($22.86/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-6014); the top 10% clear $66,350.
- The role maps closely to Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (43-6014).
- The outlook is declining: BLS projects about -1.6% through 2034 as software automates clerical work, though turnover still yields around 202,800 openings a year.
- Pay runs from an entry office assistant near $33,280 to an executive assistant or office manager at the $66,350 top decile, built on software and coordination skills.
Career Path
How do you become a administrative assistant?
Office / receptionist assistant
Handling front-desk, filing and basic support starts near the $33,280 10th percentile.
Administrative Assistant
Managing calendars, documents and office coordination earns around the $47,540 median.
Senior administrative assistant
Supporting leaders and owning complex coordination lifts pay toward the $58,000 75th percentile.
Executive assistant / office manager
Advancing into executive support or office management reaches the $66,350 90th percentile.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays administrative assistants the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-6014. National median: $47,540. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does administrative assistant pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles administrative assistants most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: administrative assistants rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected −1.6% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly administrative assistants clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-6014 (administrative assistants) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do administrative assistants need?
The typical minimum education; an associate degree can help candidates stand out. See all state licences →
IAAP's credential validating administrative and office-management competencies.
Microsoft certification proving proficiency in Word, Excel and Outlook.
Credential demonstrating fluency in the Google productivity suite many offices use.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do administrative assistants use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 43-6014
Salary Levers
How do administrative assistants earn above the $47,540 BLS median?
Master advanced office software
Strong Excel and productivity skills lift pay off the $33,280 band toward the median.
Support senior leaders
Owning complex coordination for executives lifts pay toward the $58,000 upper band.
Move into EA or office management
Advancing into executive support or office management reaches the $66,350 top decile.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an administrative assistant worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 43-6014. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Administrative Assistant Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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