Life As an Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant
Position Description Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, handling information requests, and performing clerical functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.
Life As an Executive Secretary & Executive Administrative Assistant: What Do They Do?
- Review operating practices and procedures to determine whether improvements can be made in areas such as workflow, reporting procedures, or expenditures.
- Provide clerical support to other departments.
- Open, sort, and distribute incoming correspondence, including faxes and email.
- Process payroll information.
- Prepare agendas and make arrangements, such as coordinating catering for luncheons, for committee, board, and other meetings.
- Supervise and train other clerical staff and arrange for employee training by scheduling training or organizing training material.
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Things an Executive Secretary & Executive Administrative Assistant Should Know How to Do
When polled, Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Related Job Titles
- Helper Coordinator
- Assistant to the President
- Program Support Assistant
- Clerical Specialist
- Confidential Secretary
Job Demand for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
In the United States, there were 685,300 jobs for Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant. The BLS estimates 54,600 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Executive Secretary & Executive Administrative Assistant are Maryland, Alaska, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Connecticut, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Salary
The average yearly salary of an Executive Secretary & Executive Administrative Assistant ranges between $36,950 and $89,310.

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants who work in New York, California, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $61,140 |
Alaska | $62,130 |
Arizona | $55,030 |
Arkansas | $49,850 |
California | $71,590 |
Colorado | $56,830 |
Connecticut | $70,690 |
Delaware | $63,000 |
District of Columbia | $72,090 |
Florida | $51,780 |
Georgia | $60,700 |
Hawaii | $58,730 |
Idaho | $46,180 |
Illinois | $58,670 |
Indiana | $50,080 |
Iowa | $50,810 |
Kansas | $51,760 |
Kentucky | $48,280 |
Louisiana | $43,160 |
Maine | $50,960 |
Maryland | $67,880 |
Massachusetts | $62,150 |
Michigan | $58,070 |
Minnesota | $56,730 |
Mississippi | $40,970 |
Missouri | $58,520 |
Montana | $52,320 |
Nebraska | $48,360 |
Nevada | $62,900 |
New Hampshire | $59,500 |
New Jersey | $68,360 |
New Mexico | $63,260 |
New York | $72,040 |
North Carolina | $55,950 |
North Dakota | $48,500 |
Ohio | $57,980 |
Oklahoma | $45,670 |
Oregon | $57,330 |
Pennsylvania | $59,210 |
Rhode Island | $64,180 |
South Carolina | $55,850 |
South Dakota | $39,030 |
Tennessee | $53,080 |
Texas | $59,430 |
Utah | $53,220 |
Vermont | $54,820 |
Virginia | $64,190 |
Washington | $62,120 |
West Virginia | $49,090 |
Wisconsin | $57,120 |
Wyoming | $49,410 |
What Tools do Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- Word processing software
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- Microsoft Publisher
- Google Docs
Becoming an Executive Secretary & Executive Administrative Assistant
What kind of Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being an Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Jace Armstrong via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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