Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants

43-6011.00 Zone 3 — Medium Preparation Needed

Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.

Also known as: Administrative Aide, Administrative Assistant, Administrative Associate, Administrative Coordinator, Administrative Liaison, Administrative Office Assistant, Administrative Office Specialist, Administrative Officer, ...

Annual Salary

$74,260

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$60,000 25th – 75th percentile $90,440
10th percentile $48,300
90th percentile $107,710
U.S. Employment: 472,770

Job Outlook

-1.6%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Declining)

Annual Job Openings 50,000 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: High school diploma or equivalent
Experience: Less than 5 years

What You'd Do

  • Manage and maintain executives' schedules.
  • Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.
  • Read and analyze incoming memos, submissions, and reports to determine their significance and plan their distribution.
  • Open, sort, and distribute incoming correspondence, including faxes and email.
  • File and retrieve corporate documents, records, and reports.
  • Greet visitors and determine whether they should be given access to specific individuals.
  • Prepare responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries.
  • Make travel arrangements for executives.
  • Conduct research, compile data, and prepare papers for consideration and presentation by executives, committees, and boards of directors.
  • Attend meetings to record minutes.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 3.9
Writing 3.8
Service Orientation 3.8
Coordination 3.4
Time Management 3.3
Critical Thinking 3.3

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Administrative 4.5
English Language 4.2
Customer and Personal Service 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.3
Administration and Management 3.2
Personnel and Human Resources 2.8
Communications and Media 2.7
Mathematics 2.5

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

Associate's
33.8%
High School
24.2%
Some College
20.9%
Bachelor's
11.9%
Post-Master's
3.4%
Professional
2.9%
Master's
1.7%
Certificate
1.3%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Apple macOS Cisco Webex Facebook Google Docs Google Workspace software Intuit QuickBooks Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Project Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Team Foundation Server Microsoft Visio Microsoft Word Oracle PeopleSoft Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management SAP Concur SAP software Slack Zoom

Other Tools

Accounting software Adobe Contribute Aestiva Purchase Order Airtable

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.7
Dependability
2.6
Attention to Detail
2.1
Cooperation
1.9
Social Orientation
1.9
Integrity
1.6
Self-Control
1.6
Stress Tolerance

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Comprehension 4.0
Written Comprehension 4.0
Oral Expression 4.0
Written Expression 4.0
Speech Recognition 4.0
Near Vision 3.9
Speech Clarity 3.9
Information Ordering 3.4

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 4.6
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships 4.5
Getting Information 4.5
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work 4.5
Communicating with People Outside the Organization 4.5
Performing Administrative Activities 4.4
Working with Computers 4.4
Scheduling Work and Activities 4.3

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

Telephone Conversations
5.0
E-Mail
5.0
Contact With Others
4.7
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
4.7
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.7
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
4.6
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
4.5
Spend Time Sitting
4.4
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.4
Freedom to Make Decisions
4.3
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
4.2
Written Letters and Memos
4.1

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.