Hiring Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Employers across the 91 metro areas we have BLS OEWS wage data for pay secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive a median of $37,080 to $62,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A search through recruitlocalpros runs Tier I to Tier VI, $6,240 to $54,340, set by seniority, never by location or salary. Our vetted recruiting partner handles sourcing, screening and placement end to end.
What do secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive do?
- Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
- Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
- Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.
- Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
- Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
- Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.
Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 43-6014.00.
What does it take to become one?
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET Job Zone 2, SVP (4.0 to < 6.0). O*NET OnLine.
Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat for this role.
What do secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive get paid?
BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive in 91 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $37,080 to $62,940 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $46,950. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.
BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 43-6014.
What does hiring one cost?
The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive in this build is $62,940. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $12,588 to $18,882 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.
Frequently asked
- How fast can a secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive search fill?
- 23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.
- What if the hire does not work out?
- A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.
Price a secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive search
Eight questions about the role. Your tier range appears on screen, with the contingency comparison if you are paying one now.