Administrative assistants support managers and professional employers by performing a wide variety of administrative duties.
Source: Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Source: 2021 Job Bank Wage Report
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
10 year expected job openings: 10,370
In general, administrative assistants:
In addition, they may:
Administrative assistants work in a wide variety of industries in the public and private sectors. Although they generally work Monday to Friday, most administrative assistants have smartphones with access to email and may be required to be available on call.
Some administrative assistants work with placement agencies—often called “temp agencies”—doing short-term jobs in private businesses and government offices.
Administrative assistants spend most of their time on computers which can put stress on the neck, back, shoulders and eyes. Equipment designed for office work may be required—headsets, for example, for those who spend a lot of time on the telephone.
Source: 2016 Census
At a minimum, employers usually ask for at least two years of work experience and a high school diploma.
Designation as a Canadian Certified Administrative Professional (CCAP) may be an advantage.
Depending on the industry and the specific role, it may also be an advantage to have a working knowledge of finance, marketing or communications.
For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 35 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. You’ll also find the skill strength needed, letting you know how capable you must be in that skill.
Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Advances in technology are changing the way this job is done. Most managers and professional employers now answer their own telephones and do their own typing. This means administrative assistants have a more complex support role than in the past.
As administrative assistants move away from taking dictation and typing, they have taken on other tasks. These include developing spreadsheets, drafting letters and other correspondence, maintaining databases, updating websites and creating presentation materials. As a result, people with a wide range of computer skills are in higher demand. As well, many positions require some experience in project management or co-ordination.
Career paths
With experience and further education, administrative assistants may progress to other administrative positions. These include senior or executive administrative assistant, clerical supervisor, business manager, project manager or office manager.
Additional resources