Hiring an administrative assistant is necessary for many companies, so considering a job in this area is a great option if you think you have the required skills. Large companies offer good employment opportunities and financial benefits to their administrative assistants.
In this article, you will find the type of companies that most often hire administrative assistants and the salaries you can expect in this profession. Keep reading to learn about the best administrative assistant jobs available.
What Is Administrative Assistance?
Administrative assistance involves a set of administrative tasks within an organization. An administrative assistant may be tasked with clerical duties, data entry, and correspondence, among other tasks that support departments or executives of a company.
An administrative assistant can work in different types of companies in a range of industries, such as financial services, consulting firms, educational services, and government offices.
How to Get an Administrative Assistant Job
Below are some tips that you can practice to find your first job as an administrative assistant. This is a step-by-step guide you should follow to find a job quickly in some of the major industries that need highly trained office clerks.
- Get an education. Administrative assistant positions require at least a high school diploma, but it may help if you have an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration or a related field. Additional training is always appreciated.
- Develop skills. To perform well in administrative assistant roles, you must develop administrative skills that help with relevant duties, such as communication skills, both verbal and written, organizational skills, creative thinking, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, among others.
- Obtain certification. Obtaining certifications can help you get a job faster. Certifications that can help you are related to basic computer programs, database software, and spreadsheet programs.
- Prepare a resume. Create a resume to send when an opportunity arises. You should always be checking job postings and have everything ready for the hiring process. Your resume should include your experience performing administrative activities in other jobs, internships, or volunteer positions.
- Ace your job interview. Be prepared for the job interview. Job seekers must be prepared to interview with the executive team of the companies they apply to, so you should know a little about the company profile. You should also familiarize yourself with the most common administrative assistant interview questions.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Administrative Assistance Companies
| Company | Salary for Administrative Assistance |
|---|---|
| $65,422 | |
| Microsoft | $60,104 |
| MIT | $52,795 |
| Yale University | $51,228 |
| Boston Consulting Group | $48,451 |
| DePaul University | $43,662 |
| University of Michigan | $43,164 |
| Cornell University | $41,761 |
| Robert Half | $38,621 |
| Loyola Marymount University | $32,026 |
Google is a multinational company that offers products and services related to the Internet. Their internet search engine is their main product, but they also provide other products such as Gmail and the Google Drive suite. Google hires a wide variety of professionals, including software engineers, software developers, product managers, and administrative assistants.
What Does Google Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
Google pays an average salary of $65,322 to administrative assistants. They also pay an average of $11,008 in additional pay such as cash bonuses.
Google Reviews
Google has an average rating of 4.5 on Glassdoor. Most reviews agree that it is a very good company to work for, with many great benefits, including healthcare, free food, and bonuses. On the other hand, promotions are hard to come by and there is a heavy workload.
Microsoft
Microsoft is a technology company that Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded in 1975. Microsoft is headquartered in Washington, US, and has 181,000 employees worldwide. Its most famous product is the computer software Microsoft Office. As a company that belongs to the information technology industry, many different job positions are available within the company.
What Does Microsoft Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
Administrative Assistants at Microsoft receive a total average salary of $60,104, which includes an additional average payment of $4,106 as a cash bonus.
Microsoft Reviews
Microsoft is one of the best places to work in 2021. According to Glassdoor, the company has an average rating of 4.4. The reviews praise the company for a fun work environment with good benefits. However, there are complaints that it’s difficult to maintain a good work-life balance.
MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that offers education in science and technology. In addition to education professionals, MIT hires administrative staff, such as data entry professionals, executive officers, and administrative assistants.
What Does MIT Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
MIT’s average salary for administrative assistants is around $52,795 a year, along with an additional pay average of around $608.
MIT Reviews
MIT has a 4.5 average rating on Glassdoor. Their reviews highlight that the team is motivated and that employees get good health and retirement benefits. However, reviewers also say there is some bureaucracy and the salary is not high enough to live in Boston.
Yale University
Yale University is a private Ivy League institution located in Connecticut. Yale is organized into fourteen schools that teach different areas of knowledge at different levels. This university employs professionals in education, research and sciences, and administration.
What Does Yale University Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
Yale University pays an average annual salary of around $51,228 to its administrative assistants.
Yale University Reviews
Yale University has an average rating of 4.4 on Glassdoor. The reviews say that it is a very good place to work and that it offers good benefits, highlighting its culture, the work environment, and that you can have a good work-life balance. Some cons say that it is difficult to climb and grow professionally while working at Yale.
Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a management consulting firm that was founded in 1963. This company is a pioneer in business strategy. Since its creation, it has been helping its clients grow their businesses while leaving a positive social impact. This company hires consultants, data scientists, and administrative assistants, among other professionals.
What Does Boston Consulting Group Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
Boston Consulting Group pays administrative assistants an average base pay of $48,451 per year. It also pays an average additional $4,234 per year in cash bonuses and profit-sharing, making total compensation $49,892 a year.
Boston Consulting Group Reviews
BCG has a 4.4 average rating on Glassdoor. Of the many reviews this company has, the health benefits, opportunities for growth, and company culture are among the most favored aspects of working at BCG. However, the high workload is also mentioned.
DePaul University
DePaul is a private Catholic University located in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1898. It is the largest Catholic university in the United States and provides education to students from diverse backgrounds through its ten colleges and schools. The university offers jobs in education, research and sciences, and administration.
What Does DePaul Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
The annual wage of an administrative assistant at DePaul University is an average of about $43,662.
DePaul Reviews
DePaul University has an average rating of 4.3 on Glassdoor. Reviews indicate that the university offers stress-free jobs, tuition benefits, and good facilities. However, the work can be boring and the salary is often not high enough to live in Chicago.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public university that was founded in 1817. The university has nineteen colleges offering undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral studies. The university offers jobs for research investigators, program managers, and administrative assistants.
What Does the University of Michigan Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
The University of Michigan pays an average salary of $43,100 per year to administrative assistants. It also pays an additional $1,139 in cash bonus per year.
University of Michigan Reviews
The University of Michigan has a 4.4 average rate on Glassdoor. Reviews show that students can work flexible schedules. The insurance plans and work-life balance are also good. However, the salary can be low compared to other salaries in the industry.
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Cornell University
Cornell University is a private American Ivy League university that was founded in 1865 and is located in New York. All fields of knowledge are taught at this university. The university offers jobs in administrative areas such as administrative management, facilities management, and administrative assistance.
What Does Cornell University Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
The annual total average salary at Cornell University is $41,761 for its administrative assistants, according to Glassdoor. However, the top 75 perfect in this position can earn $58,000 or more.
Cornell University Reviews
Cornell University has a 4.5 average rating on Glassdoor. Reviews state that the workspace is excellent and offers a competitive salary. They also highlight its values and good work environment.
Robert Half
Robert Half is a company located in California. It specializes in human resources and offers recruitment solutions. It has been named on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list. This company offers jobs in data entry, inventory auditing, administrative assistance, and others.
What Does Robert Half Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
Robert Half pays an average salary of $38,621 per year to administrative assistants, in addition to an average of about $1,092 per year.
Robert Half Reviews
Robert Half has a 3.8 average rating on Glassdoor. Reviews say it’s a great company that provides good training. However, reviews are also mixed on salary, benefits, turnover, and working hours, which is why the company doesn’t have a higher rating.
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a private Jesuit university located in Los Angeles, California. This university was founded in 1911, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The university hires teaching assistants, administrative coordinators, and administrative assistants.
What Does Loyola Marymount University Pay Its Administrative Assistants?
Loyola Marymount University pays an average salary of about $32,026 per year to its administrative assistants.
Loyola Marymount University Reviews
Loyola Marymount University has a 4.5 average rating on Glassdoor. The reviews point out that there is a good work environment, the benefits are good, and the institution offers learning opportunities to employees. However, they also mention that the salary is low and that the work can get boring at times.
Why You Should Become an Administrative Assistant in 2023
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 324,300 openings for administrative assistants are projected to open each year, so this profession continues to be in high demand. It is a very good option for your early career as it allows you to move up to other administrative roles over time.
Nowadays, an administrative assistant is vital for keeping up with the daily office tasks of a company. In fact, nearly every senior executive will want to have an assistant. With great job security, you can focus on finding a high-paying role and gaining valuable experience in the field. To do this, you should focus on highlighting valuable clerical skills on your resume.
Best Companies for Administrative Assistance FAQ
A job as an administrative assistant can offer you a maximum average salary of $70,317 per year. However, there are organizations that offer even more.
An administrative assistant must be highly qualified in skills such as verbal and written communication, organizational skills, and quick problem-solving skills.
Administrative assistants can earn an average salary of $70,317 per year if they work for Google and an average salary of $32,026 per year if they work for Loyola Marymount University. However, it depends on the industry and specific company. In addition, experience level will also determine how much an assistant is paid.
Administrative assistance can be a very satisfying career because of the wide range of tasks they perform. In addition, many people find the ability to solve problems and help other employees in their work highly fulfilling. Further, administrative assistants often work for large companies that provide attractive benefits packages.
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