Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
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 called: Administrative Aide · Administrative Assistant · Administrative Associate · Administrative Coordinator · Administrative Secretary · Administrative Specialist
Median pay (national)
$74,260
$48,300–$107,710 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
472,770
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-1.6%
~50,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $107,710 versus $48,300 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $74,260 leaves roughly 45% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -1.6% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 50,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $85,520, +15% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $35,340 — a 142% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Google Workspace software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Manage and maintain executives' schedules.
- Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.
- Answer phone calls and direct calls to appropriate parties or take messages.
- Prepare responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries.
- Prepare agendas and make arrangements, such as coordinating catering for luncheons, for committee, board, and other meetings.
- Perform general office duties, such as ordering supplies, maintaining records management database systems, and performing basic bookkeeping work.
- Read and analyze incoming memos, submissions, and reports to determine their significance and plan their distribution.
- Provide clerical support to other departments.
- Attend meetings to record minutes.
- Make travel arrangements for executives.
Tools & technology
- Google Workspace software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP Concur
- Zoom
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apple macOS
- Cisco Webex
- Intuit QuickBooks
Knowledge areas
- Administrative
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Communications and Media
- Mathematics