Work Environment
Although administrative assistants work in nearly every industry, many are employed in schools, hospitals, governments, and legal and medical offices. Most work full time in office settings. Virtual assistants typically work from a home office.
Pay
The median annual wage for administrative assistants is approximately $35,330 per year. A median pay of $16.99 per hour.
Job Outlook
Employment of administrative assistants is projected to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Many job openings will result from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. Those with a combination of work experience and computer skills should have the best job prospects.
Duties
Administrative assistants typically do the following:
Executive administrative assistants provide high-level administrative support for an office and for top executives of an organization. They often handle more complex responsibilities, such as reviewing incoming documents, conducting research, and preparing reports. Some also supervise clerical staff.
Administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive is the largest subcategory of secretaries and administrative assistants. They handle an office’s administrative activities in almost every sector of the economy, including schools, government, and private corporations. For example, secretaries in schools are often responsible for handling most of the communications among parents, students, the community, teachers, and school administrators. They schedule appointments, receive visitors, and keep track of students’ records.
Virtual assistants work from a home office, providing support to one or more clients on a contract basis. They use the Internet, email, and fax machines to communicate with clients. Although their assignments often vary from short term to long term, their typical duties are similar to those of other administrative assistants. Working from a remote location allows virtual assistants to support multiple clients in different industries.
*U.S. Dept. of Labor Occupation Outlook Handbook
Although administrative assistants work in nearly every industry, many are employed in schools, hospitals, governments, and legal and medical offices. Most work full time in office settings. Virtual assistants typically work from a home office.
Pay
The median annual wage for administrative assistants is approximately $35,330 per year. A median pay of $16.99 per hour.
Job Outlook
Employment of administrative assistants is projected to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Many job openings will result from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation. Those with a combination of work experience and computer skills should have the best job prospects.
Duties
Administrative assistants typically do the following:
- Answer telephones and take messages or transfer calls
- Schedule appointments and update event calendars
- Arrange staff meetings
- Handle incoming and outgoing mail and faxes
- Draft routine memos, billing, or other reports
- Edit company correspondence and ensure document accuracy
- Maintain databases and filing systems, whether electronic or paper
- Perform basic bookkeeping
Executive administrative assistants provide high-level administrative support for an office and for top executives of an organization. They often handle more complex responsibilities, such as reviewing incoming documents, conducting research, and preparing reports. Some also supervise clerical staff.
Administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive is the largest subcategory of secretaries and administrative assistants. They handle an office’s administrative activities in almost every sector of the economy, including schools, government, and private corporations. For example, secretaries in schools are often responsible for handling most of the communications among parents, students, the community, teachers, and school administrators. They schedule appointments, receive visitors, and keep track of students’ records.
Virtual assistants work from a home office, providing support to one or more clients on a contract basis. They use the Internet, email, and fax machines to communicate with clients. Although their assignments often vary from short term to long term, their typical duties are similar to those of other administrative assistants. Working from a remote location allows virtual assistants to support multiple clients in different industries.
*U.S. Dept. of Labor Occupation Outlook Handbook