Post Job

What is an associate administrative assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Anne McConnell Ph.D.
introduction image

Associate Administrative Assistants perform a wide range of clerical and secretarial tasks for an organization. Their work usually focuses on maintaining the office's budget and expenses, updating records, and administering company policy guidelines. They usually work alongside the Associate Administrator in execution of these tasks.

Essential skills for such a position include being adept in technology, having excellent verbal and written communication, top-notch time management, strategic planning, resourcefulness, anticipating needs, and a detail oriented mindset, among others. Entry-level administrative assistants should have at least a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate in addition to skills certifications. Some positions prefer a minimum of an associate's degree, and some companies may even require a bachelor's degree.

Being an administrative assistant does have its perks. The median salary for an Associate Administrative Assistant with an Associate's Degree is $46,344 - $49,470. Furthermore, they make an average of $25.73 per hour. Not only that, this position will lead to future promotions within the organization and help you reach your career goals.

What general advice would you give to an Associate Administrative Assistant?

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Professor, West Virginia State University

I would say it's important to be very attentive to the way you communicate with your employers, managers, and co-workers. Even sending an e-mail can be an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and communication skills. Some people think that no one knows how to write anymore, or how to communicate in a professional way. I don't think that's true. But we don't always think about how our writing can be a tool to communicate our competence and seriousness. If you know how to write and communicate professionally-which college grads do-then make sure to demonstrate that in the workplace.
ScoreAssociate Administrative AssistantUS Average
Salary
3.7

Avg. Salary $46,939

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.0

Growth Rate -8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.83%

Black or African American 9.26%

Hispanic or Latino 16.22%

Unknown 3.87%

White 66.09%

Gender

female 75.61%

male 24.39%

Age - 52
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52
Stress Level
6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.4

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Associate Administrative Assistant career paths

Key steps to become an associate administrative assistant

  1. Explore associate administrative assistant education requirements

    Most common associate administrative assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    51.8 %

    Associate

    22.4 %

    High School Diploma

    12.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific associate administrative assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service13.17%
    Data Entry10.38%
    PowerPoint6.99%
    Financial Reports5.07%
    Payroll4.90%
  3. Complete relevant associate administrative assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate administrative assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate administrative assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate administrative assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional associate administrative assistant certifications

    Associate administrative assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific associate administrative assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for associate administrative assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

    More About Certifications
  5. Research associate administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Direct correspondence and communications, monitoring emails and phone calls and managing social media and online presence on Facebook and website.
    • Support medical doctors, manage sensitive and confidential records pertaining to high risk patients with emphasis on accuracy.
    • Reconcile credit card purchases and identify and resolve all payroll discrepancies.
    • Post photos of available properties on company's Facebook page.
  6. Prepare your associate administrative assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your associate administrative assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an associate administrative assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Associate Administrative Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Associate Administrative Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Associate Administrative Assistant resume.
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
    Associate Administrative Assistant Resume
  7. Apply for associate administrative assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an associate administrative assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Associate Administrative Assistant Job

Zippi

Are you an Associate Administrative Assistant?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average associate administrative assistant salary

The average Associate Administrative Assistant salary in the United States is $46,939 per year or $23 per hour. Associate administrative assistant salaries range between $28,000 and $77,000 per year.

Average Associate Administrative Assistant Salary
$46,939 Yearly
$22.57 hourly

What Am I Worth?

salary-calculator

How do associate administrative assistants rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Associate Administrative Assistant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Writing a message,Organizing receipts and expenses and sending them out when needed

Cons

Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

It my passion to help people in need. It makes me feel good to see people the Youth do well in the life

Cons

I don't like to see anyone stuck in between and not being helped.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020
Pros

everything except phones : Meeting,greeting, customer service, interviewing, on boarding, recruiting, presenting, etc.

Cons

phones - because of my accent


Working as an Associate Administrative Assistant? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall Rating*
Career Growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse office and administrative jobs