Almost any workplace you can think of has an administrative assistant—the behind-the-scenes person who keeps the office and its workers running smoothly. The great news is that this can be an entry-level job. If you can prove your interpersonal and organizational skills, and have a solid knowledge of basic word processing and office computer programs, you can apply for a position. Most training occurs on the job, and is office specific.
If you have interest in a certain field and would like a foot in the door, going the administrative assistant route is a great way to explore all corners of an industry—you not only are often the face of the company to clients, you also likely will talk to people at all levels of office hierarchy. Do a great job and become someone who’s trustworthy and accountable, and you’ll set yourself up for a career that can transport anywhere, in any company.
Here is a list of titles that fall under the Administrative Assistant umbrella.
Administrative Assistant Job Titles
Accounting Clerk
Accounting Specialist
Accounts Payable Assistant
Accounts Payable Clerk
Adjustment Clerk
Adjustment Representative
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Clerk
Administrative Coordinator
Administrative Director
Administrative Manager
Administrative Office Assistant
Administrative Specialist
Administrative Supervisor
Admissions Clerk
Advocacy Specialist
Assessment Clerk
Assessment Technician
Assistant City Manager
Assistant Hotel Front Office Manager
Auditing Clerk
Automotive Warranty Clerk
Auxiliary Services Manager
Aviation Inventory Clerk
Bakery Clerk
Bank Clerk
Billing Clerk
Borough Manager
Business Office Administrator
Business Office Assistant
Business Office Manager
Car Rental Clerk
Chapter Specialist
Chief Information Officer (CIO) Assistant
Circulation Clerk
City Clerk
City Manager’s Assistant
City Official
City Recorder
City Superintendent
City Treasurer
Claims Clerk
Claims Processor
Clerical Coordinator
Clerical Supervisor
Clerical Support Associate
Clerk
Collection Coordinator
Collections Clerk
Commissary Clerk
Conference Registrar
Constituent Services Manager
Contract Administrator
Contract Analyst
Contract Assistant
Contract Consultant
Contract Director
Contract Manager
Contract Negotiator
Contract Specialist
Contract Supervisor
Contracting Officer
Convenience Store Clerk
Correspondence Analyst
Correspondence Clerk
Correspondence Supervisor
County Administrator
County Director
County Recorder
Court Clerk
Cultural Affairs Manager
Data Collector
Data Conversion Project Manager
Data Entry Analyst
Data Entry Assistant
Data Entry Clerk
Data Entry Consultant
Data Entry Manager
Data Entry Representative
Data Entry Supervisor
Data Processor
Database Assistant
Deli Clerk
Dental Receptionist
Deputy County Recorder
Diet Clerk
Director of Government Affairs
Dispatch Clerk
Document Analyst
Document Control Administrator
Document Control Clerk
Document Control Supervisor
Document Imaging Specialist
Document Manager
Election Clerk
Elections Coordinator
Elections Director
Eligibility Specialist
Enrollment Eligibility Representative
Escrow Clerk
Event Registration Specialist
Executive Assistant
Executive Secretary
Faculty Administrative Assistant
Faculty Secretary
Federal Affairs Director
Finance Clerk
Financial Aid Technician
Financial Assistance Specialist
Financial Secretary
Fire Department Administrative Assistant
Floral Clerk
Foreclosure Clerk
Foreign Affairs Director
Freight-Rate Clerk
Front Desk Attendant
Front Office Manager
Gender Affairs Officer
Government Affairs Analyst
Government Affairs Assistant
Government Affairs Manager
Government Affairs Specialist
Government Contracts Manager
Government Relations Coordinator
Government Relations Director
Grant Administrator
Grant Director
Grant Manager
Grant Writer
Grievance and Appeals Coordinator
Grievance and Appeals Representative
Grocery Clerk
Guest Service Agent
Health Care Representative
Health Department Administrator
Healthcare Claims Processor
Hotel Front Office Manager
Hotel Front Office Supervisor
Human Resources Clerk
Human Rights Officer
Import / Export Clerk
Indexing Specialist
Inventory Clerk
Jail Secretary
Laboratory Administrative Assistant
Law Clerk
Legal Billing Clerk
Legal Office Manager
Legal Secretary
Legislative Affairs Specialist
Legislative Aide
License Clerk
Lobbyist
Logistics Clerk
Mail Clerk
Mailroom Clerk
Maintenance Clerk
Medical Administrative Assistant
Medical Admissions Clerk
Medical Billing Clerk
Medical Clerk
Medical Front Office
Medical Office Manager
Medical Office Supervisor
Medical Receptionist
Medical Records Clerk
Medical Secretary
Merchandise Clerk
Nutrition Clerk
Office Assistant
Office Automation Clerk
Office Clerk
Office Manager
Office Supervisor
Ombudsman
Order Administrator
Order Clerk
Order Entry Specialist
Patient Coordinator
Patient Registration Specialist
Payroll Clerk
Permit Coordinator
Personal Assistant (PA)
PMO Analyst
PMO Director
PMO Manager
PMO Project Manager
PMO Specialist
Police Administrative Assistant
Police Clerk
Police Records Manager
Police Records Supervisor
Police Records Technician
Policy Advisor
Political Affairs Officer
Political Director
Postal Service Clerk
Postmaster
Production Clerk
Proofreader
Protocol Officer
Public Administrator
Public Policy Analyst
Public Policy Assistant
Public Policy Director
Public Policy Specialist
Public Service Director
Public Service Manager
Public Service Project Manager
Public Service Specialist
Quality Control Clerk
Real Estate Clerk
Real Estate Office Manager
Receptionist
Records Coordinator
Records Custodian
Records Officer
Records Technician
Referral Specialist
Refund Specialist
Registrar of Voters
Rental Clerk
Returns Processor
Scale House Clerk
Scanning Assistant
Scanning Specialist
Scheduling Coordinator
Secretary
Securities Clerk
Service Contracts Manager
Shipping / Receiving Clerk
Shop Clerk
Social Security Specialist
Spa Receptionist
Space Management Specialist
Staff Scheduler
Surgery Scheduler
Title Services Representative
Tooling Manager
Township Manager
Township Trustee
Trade Officer
Traffic Clerk
Transportation Clerk
Utility Billing Clerk
Utility Clerk
Veterans Service Officer
Veterinary Receptionist
Village Administrator
Village Manager
VP of Government Affairs
Warehouse Clerk
Warranty Clerk
Word Processing Operator
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school graduates who are comfortable using computer software applications usually qualify for entry-level positions. If you are interested in legal and medical assistant positions, those might require additional training to learn industry-specific terminology.
In order to enter this field, most jobs require you to have a high school diploma or equivalent. According to BLS, employment of customer service representatives is projected to grow 3 percent through 2024, and the median hourly wage for the field is around $17.90.
