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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Secretaries and administrative assistants (except legal, medical, and executive)

Woman looking at computer and binder while speaking on phone Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, external verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 36.9 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive. External verbal interactions were required more than once per hour (but not constantly) for 38.4 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	16.3	83.7
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	76.3	23.7
Working around crowds	<0.5	>99.5
Telework routinely allowed	25.2	74.8
Supervising others	3.9	96.1
Supervisor present in immediate work area	76.0	24.0
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 65.3 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive and on-the-job training was required for 87.3 percent.

A high school diploma was required for 79.6 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 29.0 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive. Another 71.0 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 54.0 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 45.8 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 17.5 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive and was not required for 82.5 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 86.7 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive. On average, workers spent 89.0 percent of the workday sitting and 11.0 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	86.7	13.3
Driving	6.5	93.5
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	6.4	93.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey