A secretary or administrative assistant keeps an office running smoothly. You manage schedules, handle communications, organize files, and support managers and teams. You can start with a high school diploma and learn on the job.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Your day involves working with computers to manage emails, documents, and schedules. You communicate regularly with supervisors, peers, and sometimes clients to understand what they need. You gather information, organize files, and plan priorities so nothing falls through the cracks. You also handle phone calls, arrange meetings, prepare reports, and maintain the relationships that hold a workplace together. The work is detail-oriented and requires you to stay on top of multiple tasks at once.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earn a median of $47,540 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is softer here. Employment is projected to fall 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, though there are still about 202,800 openings a year from turnover.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. Many employers prefer candidates with some experience or familiarity with office software like word processors and spreadsheets. You can gain these skills through high school courses, community college programs, or online training before you apply. Once hired, you will learn company-specific systems and processes on the job. Some people move into this role after working in entry-level office positions.
Most people enter this field through high school or community college, then learn the specifics of their workplace on the job. If you are deciding between jumping in quickly or building skills first, Pathly can map the secretary and administrative assistant, except legal, medical, and executive path that fits you with your counselor to map out the path that fits your situation.
You do not need a license to work as a secretary and administrative assistant, except legal, medical, and executive, but professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
You like structure, accuracy, and clear systems. You are organized, detail-focused, and enjoy supporting others. You communicate well and stay calm when managing competing priorities.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).