Q: Do you need a degree to be an office assistant?

No, you do not need a degree to be an office assistant. Generally, all a person needs to become an office assistant is a high school diploma or equivalent. However, some office assistant roles prefer a person to have their associate's degree or complete a vocational school program. It is also beneficial for a person to seek out a professional certification, such as the Administrative Assistant Certificate.

Q: How much do office assistants get paid?

An office assistant makes an average of $34,000 annually. However, the salary can range anywhere from $24,000 to $54,000 annually, depending on education and experience levels. Office Assistants can greatly increase their salaries by pursuing formal educational degrees and professional certifications. This can very quickly develop their skills within the role and make them more valuable employees.

Q: Is being an office assistant a good job?

Yes, being an office assistant is a good job. While the role of an Office Assistant starts with a low salary, it offers ample opportunity for career and salary growth. This is especially true for people who choose not to pursue higher education. This entry-level office role can be a great stepping stone into positions within a company that would otherwise be blocked due to educational requirements.

Question 1

Do you need a degree to be an office assistant?

Accepted Answer

No, you do not need a degree to be an office assistant. Generally, all a person needs to become an office assistant is a high school diploma or equivalent.

However, some office assistant roles prefer a person to have their associate's degree or complete a vocational school program. It is also beneficial for a person to seek out a professional certification, such as the Administrative Assistant Certificate.

Question 2

How long does it take to become an office assistant?

Accepted Answer

An office assistant is an entry-level job and typically does not require more than one year of experience. While not necessary, it can be useful to take a year of vocational schooling to gain critical office skills in common software and word processing programs, data entry, and customer service skills.

Question 3

Is an office assistant the same as a receptionist?

Accepted Answer

No, an office assistant is not the same role as a receptionist. While these roles can be similar in some companies and even be held by the same person, the roles are not the same.

The office receptionist is the representative of the company that visitors encounter first. Their duties are primarily in customer service, ensuring that everyone who walks through the door or who makes a phone call has a positive first impression of the company.

Question 4

What is the qualification of an office assistant?

Accepted Answer

The basic qualification needed to be an office assistant is a high school diploma or equivalent. Other common educational qualifications for the role are a vocational school diploma or an associate's degree. Aside from this, achieving professional certifications and work experience in an office setting are other useful qualifications.

Question 5

What skills do you need to become an office assistant?

Accepted Answer

The top skills needed to become an office assistant are interpersonal skills and organizational skills. The office assistant ensures that the office is running as efficiently as possible, which requires a variety of soft and hard skills.

Question 6

What is a good starting salary for an Office Assistant?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for an office assistant is $25,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for an office assistant in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for office assistants is $31,545, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for an office assistant can vary by state.

Question 7

How much do office assistants get paid?

Accepted Answer

An office assistant makes an average of $34,000 annually. However, the salary can range anywhere from $24,000 to $54,000 annually, depending on education and experience levels.

Office Assistants can greatly increase their salaries by pursuing formal educational degrees and professional certifications. This can very quickly develop their skills within the role and make them more valuable employees.

Question 8

How much do office assistants make an hour?

Accepted Answer

An office assistant typically makes about $13 dollars an hour. Since this is an entry-level position, the starting salary can be as low as minimum wage, but with experience can grow to be upwards of $25 an hour.

Question 9

Can an office assistant make 100k?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot make $100,000 per year as an office assistant. It is highly unlikely to earn over $100k because the average annual salary for an office assistant is $31,545. Even office assistants in higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $38,000 per year.

Question 10

Is being an office assistant a good job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being an office assistant is a good job. While the role of an Office Assistant starts with a low salary, it offers ample opportunity for career and salary growth.

This is especially true for people who choose not to pursue higher education. This entry-level office role can be a great stepping stone into positions within a company that would otherwise be blocked due to educational requirements.

Question 11

What does an office assistant do?

Accepted Answer

An office assistant handles organizational and administrative tasks. The role of an office assistant often involves ensuring that an office is operating as efficiently as possible.

This role does the following tasks:

Organizes and maintains filing system
Schedules meetings and manages calendars
Drafts emails, invoices, and memos
Maintains office supplies
Answers phone calls and welcome guests

Question 12

What percentage of Office Assistants are female?

Accepted Answer

80.8% of office assistants are female in the United States. This is 2.2 percentage points higher than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female office assistants has increased by 0.4 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 2,471,521 female office assistants in the U.S. and 587,293 male office assistants in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 3,058,814 people with the specific job title of office assistant and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 13

How do I write a resume for an office job?

Accepted Answer

You write a resume for an office job by listing the roles and responsibilities you accomplished in office positions. You should also be sure to note any specific achievements that you have accomplished in your office job, as well as detail the skills that you developed in your work and educational experiences.

Question 14

What are some office assistant skills?

Accepted Answer

Some office assistant skills include administrative skills, interpersonal skills, and organizational skills. The office assistant ensures that the office is running as efficiently as possible, which requires a variety of soft and hard skills.

Question 15

What are the responsibilities of an office assistant?

Accepted Answer

The responsibilities of an office assistant include assisting the office manager in hiring, training, and overseeing other office employees. Office assistants complete various administrative support and organizational tasks to maintain the ongoing requirements of the office.

Question 16

What should an office assistant put on a resume?

Accepted Answer

An office assistant should put the roles and responsibilities they accomplished in their previous role as an office assistant on a resume. You should also be sure to note any specific achievements that you have as an office assistant, as well as detail the skills that you developed in your work and educational experiences.

Frequently asked questions about office assistants

Questions About Becoming an Office Assistant