Mid-Level

Secretary

Secretaries handle correspondence, scheduling, document prep, and the daily administrative needs of a person, team, or office.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
S
I
R
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Secretarys
Employment concentration ยท ~400 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 Secretary

A typical day mixes standing administrative work โ€” calendars, document prep, file maintenance โ€” with reactive work when priorities shift. You'll often be the connective tissue. The role rewards quiet anticipation โ€” knowing what someone will need before they ask, and being ready when they do.

Collaboration involves the people you support, vendors, and other internal teams. What's harder than expected is the discretion required โ€” secretaries see sensitive information regularly, and the trust that builds up over months is part of why the role works at all.

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 well. People who need credit for their work or who can't hold the discretion that comes with seeing how things actually run usually struggle โ€” much of the value is in handling sensitive things without making it a story.

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

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape โ€” 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 Secretarys (SOC 43-6012.00, 43-6013.00, 43-6014.00), not just this title ยท BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Secretary career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit โ€” and plan your path forward.
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โœฆ Editorial โ€” 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 โ€” helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$32Kโ€“$88K
Salary Range
10th โ€“ 90th percentile
2.7M
U.S. Employment
-1.07%
10yr Growth
308K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$64K$61K$59K$56K$53K201920202021202220232024$53K$64K
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningSpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingReading ComprehensionWritingSpeaking
O*NET OnLine ยท Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-6012.0043-6013.0043-6014.00

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