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To become a secretary in the United States, choose the kind of office role you want, build practical software and communication skills, and show employers that you can manage schedules, documents, and information reliably. Many general entry-level positions accept a high-school diploma and provide on-the-job training; medical, legal, and executive roles may require added preparation or experience. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) explains these differences.
I started in smaller roles and advanced through effort, study, and steady improvement. That experience taught me that a first position can be a starting point, not a limit. At CareersForge, I built an AI-enabled HR company and official job board around practical career support for people taking their next step.
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What does a secretary do today?
In U.S. job listings, “secretary” and “administrative assistant” can describe overlapping work. Common tasks include organizing calendars, answering and routing calls, preparing documents, keeping records, arranging meetings, and helping a team stay on schedule. Duties vary by employer and specialty.
A general office secretary is different from a medical, legal, or executive secretary. Medical and legal roles can require familiarity with specialized terms and procedures; executive support roles commonly ask for several years of related experience. The O*NET profile for secretaries and administrative assistants is useful for comparing common tasks and job titles.
How to become a secretary: 7 steps to your first role
- Choose a target role. Read descriptions for general office, medical, legal, or executive support and note the requirements that appear repeatedly.
- Check current U.S. job postings. Compare the duties, required software, schedule, education, and experience listed by employers in your area.
- Build core office-tool skills. Practice word processing, spreadsheets, calendars, email, video meetings, and digital file organization.
- Strengthen communication and judgment. Practice clear writing, courteous phone and email responses, prioritizing requests, and handling confidential information carefully.
- Create simple work samples. A sample meeting agenda, calendar, spreadsheet, or document workflow can show your organization skills. Use fictional information; never expose private data.
- Translate your experience into relevant skills. Customer service, scheduling, school projects, volunteering, and team coordination may demonstrate useful abilities. If you are specifically starting without office experience, read our step-by-step guide for becoming a secretary with no experience.
- Tailor your résumé and interview examples. Match your skills to the employer’s actual requirements and prepare a short example of how you handled competing tasks or corrected a mistake.
Secretary qualifications: what employers commonly ask for
Secretary qualifications depend on the job. Employers commonly look for reliable organization, accurate written communication, discretion, basic office software, and the ability to keep several tasks moving. An employer may ask for a high-school diploma or equivalent, while more specialized roles can list additional training or experience.
Do not assume that every posting requires a bachelor’s degree, a specific typing speed, or years of office work. Read each listing and use the qualifications it names to decide what to learn next.
Do you need a degree or certification to become a secretary?
For many general entry-level secretary or administrative-assistant jobs, a high-school diploma or equivalent and comfort with word-processing and spreadsheet programs are enough to qualify. A bachelor’s degree is typically not required for the general occupation, according to the BLS. Employers may prefer college coursework for some executive-support jobs.
A universal secretary certification is not a standard requirement for every role. A course or software certificate may help demonstrate a skill, but it does not replace the experience or qualifications named in a specific posting. For medical or legal support, look for training in the terminology and procedures the employer uses. Verify the course issuer, cost, and relevance before paying for a credential.
Is it bad to just want to be a secretary?
No. Administrative work is a real career choice, and you do not need to apologize for valuing its responsibilities. A secretary can be the person who keeps communication, schedules, records, and follow-through organized. Some people want to specialize or move into office management; others prefer to build depth in a support role. The right choice depends on your strengths, the work itself, and the conditions of the job—not on whether the title sounds impressive.
How much do secretaries earn, and what is the job outlook?
BLS national data place the median annual wage for secretaries and administrative assistants at $48,310 in May 2025. Pay differed by specialty: $47,540 for general secretaries and administrative assistants, $45,930 for medical, $55,570 for legal, and $76,590 for executive roles. These are national medians, not a promise of what a particular job will pay.
| Role group | May 2025 U.S. median pay | What may be different |
|---|---|---|
| General secretary / administrative assistant | $47,540 | Office software, calendars, communication, and records |
| Medical secretary | $45,930 | Medical terms, codes, records, and clinic procedures |
| Legal secretary | $55,570 | Legal terminology and supervised document preparation |
| Executive secretary / executive assistant | $76,590 | Higher-level executive support and related experience |
BLS projects overall employment for secretaries and administrative assistants to decline 2% from 2025 to 2035, while estimating about 314,400 openings per year on average, mostly to replace workers who leave the occupation. The outlook varies by specialty; medical secretary employment is projected to grow 5% over that period. BLS also notes that AI and digital tools are automating some routine document work. Candidates can prepare by strengthening coordination, judgment, communication, and role-specific knowledge alongside software skills.
Where can secretary skills lead?
Administrative skills can transfer into office coordination, executive support, records work, customer operations, and other roles, depending on the experience you build and the requirements of the employer. Advancement is not automatic; look for chances to learn systems, document results, and take on responsibilities that match your goals.
How CareersForge supports candidates and employers
CareersForge is an AI-enabled HR company and official job board. Our team manages recruiting, candidate selection, and hiring for every vacancy listed on the platform, including partner-supplied third-party roles. We also offer free career tools, coaching, and guides to help candidates prepare and make informed career decisions.
Secretary career FAQs
How long does it take to become a secretary?
There is no single timeline. General office duties are often learned on the job over several weeks. Medical and legal roles may require extra training in industry terminology, and executive roles often ask for prior administrative experience.
Is a certificate required to become a secretary?
Not for every general secretary job. Check the specific listing. A certificate can document training in a relevant tool or specialty, but do not treat it as a universal license or guaranteed hiring advantage.
What is the national median pay for secretaries?
The BLS reports a $48,310 national median annual wage for secretaries and administrative assistants in May 2025. Pay varies by specialty, location, industry, and experience.
CareersForge brings the job board, AI-enabled HR services, free career tools, coaching, and guides together. Explore the Career Suite as you plan your next step, and compare each job’s posted requirements before applying.
Rodrigo Durães is the founder and editor of CareersForge, where he publishes career-development resources on career planning, resumes, interviews, and job search. His professional experience and education are listed on his LinkedIn profile, including his role as Global CEO of VisionCorp International from 2011 to 2023. View Rodrigo’s LinkedIn profile.
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