Administrative Assistant Position Description

An administrative assistant offers help with various clerical tasks.

Administrative assistants provide clerical support in an office environment. The role involves using office equipment such as telephones, computers and fax machines to provide administrative support to senior managers and other departments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the occupation ranks among those with the highest number of job openings.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of an administrative assistant vary between organizations. Typically, the role requires arranging and scheduling meetings, taking notes at meetings, typing and filing documents. Administrative assistants employed at a higher level may also arrange conference calls, conduct research and prepare statistical reports.

Requirements

Most administrative assistants must be computer literate. Many employers seek high school graduates with appropriate office skills for entry-level roles. Once hired, administrative assistants often acquire additional skills, but they must already possess good spelling, grammar and oral communication.

Salary

The salary range of administrative assistants varies depending upon experience, location and industry. According to Indeed, the average annual salary of an administrative assistant as of September 2010 was $38,000.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
• Indeed: Administrative Assistant Salary

Resources

• International Association of Administrative Professionals