Mid-Level

Staff Assistant

Staff assistants provide administrative support to a team or executive — handling correspondence, scheduling, document prep, and the dozens of tasks that keep things moving.

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 Staff Assistants
Employment concentration · ~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 Staff Assistant

Workdays mix standing administrative work — calendars, document prep, file maintenance — with reactive work when priorities shift. You'll often be the connective tissue. Strong staff assistants quietly own a portfolio of recurring deliverables that nobody else has to think about, which builds trust over time.

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

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 confidence usually struggle — much of the value is in handling things smoothly without making them visible.

RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
Working ConditionsLower
AchievementLower
IndependenceLower
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 Staff Assistants (SOC 43-6011.00, 43-6014.00), 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 Staff 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.

$32K–$108K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
2.2M
U.S. Employment
-1.6%
10yr Growth
253K
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

Active ListeningActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingService OrientationWritingService Orientation
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
43-6011.0043-6014.00

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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.