Mid-Level

Office Administrative Assistant (Office Admin Assistant)

Office admin assistants provide administrative support to an office — handling correspondence, scheduling, document prep, and the reactive work that comes up across the day.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
S
R
I
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Office Administrative Assistant (Office Admin Assistant)s
Job markets for Office Administrative Assistant (Office Admin Assistant)s
Employment concentration · ~390 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Office Administrative Assistant (Office Admin Assistant)

A typical day mixes standing responsibilities — calendars, recurring reports, document handling — with reactive work when priorities shift. You'll often be the person who knows where everything is. The role rewards quiet anticipation — drafting the email someone will need to send tomorrow, pulling the file before the meeting starts.

Collaboration involves the people you support, vendors, and other internal teams. What's harder than expected is anticipating needs without being asked — strong assistants know what people will need before being asked, and that skill takes months of paying attention to develop.

People who thrive tend to be organized, discreet, and proactive. If you find satisfaction in being the person who quietly keeps things running, the role often fits. People who need credit for their work, or who can't hold the discretion that comes with seeing how the office actually runs, usually struggle.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportModerate
IndependenceLower
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Office Administrative Assistant (Office Admin Assistant)s (SOC 43-9061.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Office Administrative Assistant (Office Admin Assistant) career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$29K–$64K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
2.5M
U.S. Employment
-6.7%
10yr Growth
282K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeakingWritingTime ManagementService OrientationCoordinationCritical ThinkingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoring
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-9061.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.