Secretaries and administrative assistants (except legal, medical, and executive) Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Occupation code: 43-6014（SOC） Not a skilled migration occupation Overall 6.2/10
Perform routine administrative duties such as drafting correspondence, scheduling meetings, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, answering phone calls, etc.
Ratings · Overall 6.2/10i
In the AI era: what happens to Secretaries and administrative assistants (except legal, medical, and executive)
Secretary and administrative assistant roles face a high risk of automation; AI and software will replace many routine administrative tasks, leading to expected job reductions, though some tasks requiring interpersonal judgment will remain.
-
Replaced drafting letters and emails, organizing meeting minutes, managing schedules, filing documents, and other clerical and administrative coordination tasks.
↗ Data sources -
Has largely replaced core administrative tasks such as drafting documents, replying to emails, creating presentations, scheduling meetings, and managing calendars.
↗ Data sources -
Partially replaced repetitive tasks in email writing, meeting scheduling, and calendar management.
-
Replaced manual recording of meeting minutes, organizing meeting records, and assigning tasks.
↗ Data sources -
Partially replaces repetitive administrative tasks such as data entry, file archiving, email sorting, and cross-system information synchronization.
-
Replaced the workflow of manually coordinating meeting times, back-and-forth confirmations, and updating calendars.
- Draft standardized letters and meeting minutes (AI-generated templates)
- Schedule and manage calendars and reminders (smart scheduling tools)
- Answer and transfer routine calls (AI voice customer service)
- Maintain and retrieve paper/electronic files (document management system)
- Data entry and organization (RPA and OCR automation)
- Responsible for complex or sensitive business communication (requiring empathy and strategy)
- Coordinating multiple conflicting agendas and making trade-offs (interpersonal negotiation)
- Training or supervising AI tool output quality (human-machine collaboration)
- Handling sudden administrative crises (adaptability)
- Manage confidential or high-level affairs (trust and confidentiality)
- Situations requiring empathy and nuanced communication
- Confidentiality and high-trust working relationships
- Unstructured problem-solving and handling unexpected situations
- Cross-department coordination and power dynamics assessment
- AI office tool usage and process optimization
- Basic data analysis and report making
- Project coordination and stakeholder management
- Social media and digital content management
- Advanced communication and writing skills
- Ability to quickly learn new software
Entry-level roles are significantly shrinking; traditional junior positions focused on letters, meeting scheduling, and file management are being replaced by AI voice assistants and automated scheduling tools. Job seekers need higher composite skills.
Recommend transitioning to administrative specialist or operations support roles. After mastering AI tool chains (e.g., automated scheduling, smart documents), move to roles requiring judgment and authorization, such as administrative services manager or project management specialist, engaging in process design rather than execution.
Salary
| Experience | Annual (USD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (0–3 years) | $28,000 ~ $36,000 | Entry-level salary range |
| Mid-level (3–7 years) | $36,000 ~ $48,000 | Salary for experienced professionals |
| Senior (7+ years) | $48,000 ~ $62,000 | Senior or executive secretary salary |
Education Path
| Stage | Duration | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| High school diploma | 4 years (high school) | $0~$0 |
| Associate degree or vocational certificate | 1-2 years | $4,500~$18,000 |
Qualifications
| Qualification | Issuer | |
|---|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or GED | Required |
| Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) | International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) | Optional |
Migration
Not a skilled migration occupation. Visa pathways depend on matching the specific duties to the right petition category; refer to the latest USCIS rules and the relevant category.
Who it fits
- Organized and detail-oriented person
- Someone who likes a stable office environment
- People with strong communication skills and a willingness to help others
- People seeking high salary and high challenge
- Those who dislike dealing with trivial matters
Career outlook
Usually start as a junior administrative assistant, progress to senior administrative assistant, office supervisor, or administrative manager with experience. Some transition to human resources, finance, or project management roles.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 5% employment growth for this occupation from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Office automation may slow demand, but all industries still need administrative support workers.
Growth areas：
Administrative supportOffice automationDigital filingScheduling software
FAQ
Data sources
Salary ranges are estimates aggregated from public listings on Indeed, Glassdoor, ERI SalaryExpert and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS); employment and demand outlook cite the BLS Occupational Outlook and O*NET; visa and migration details follow the latest USCIS work-visa (H-1B / O-1 / L-1) and employment-based green-card (EB-2 / EB-3, incl. DOL PERM labor certification) rules. Figures are indicative only — always refer to the latest official sources.