Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in San Bernardino County

May also be called: Administrative Secretaries; Office Assistants; Clerk Typists; Office Managers; Administrative Technicians; Administrative Associates; Administrative Support Assistants; Department Secretaries; and Personal Secretaries

What Would I Do?

Secretaries help managers and workers make sure an office runs smoothly. Their duties vary depending upon the size and organization of the office. They use many types of office equipment and computer software to prepare reports and messages for staff and clients. In addition, they may edit work done by others using their knowledge of grammar and spelling. Secretaries handle telephone calls and mail. They also organize and maintain paper or electronic files.

Some Secretaries make travel reservations for office personnel. Others may set up their supervisor's schedule and keep the supervisor's calendar up to date. They may arrange, prepare materials for, and take notes at meetings. Additionally, they may establish work procedures and schedules. In small offices, they may handle the billing, payroll, bookkeeping, equipment, and supplies. In larger offices, they may specialize in one or more of these areas.

Many Secretaries have experience in special areas such as in engineering or real estate. In most cases, they are familiar with the language, the forms, and the procedures for working in that type of office.

Various office equipment used by Secretaries include scanners, phone systems, computers, and videoconferencing systems. Secretaries typically access various database software including word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail, and presentation software.

Working Conditions

Secretaries work full-time or part-time in offices under one or more managers or administrators. They often have to juggle priorities while dealing with deadlines and interruptions such as the breakdown of equipment. They also work with many people who have different, sometimes difficult, personalities. These pressures can cause stress at times.

Secretarial work is usually not physically hard, but the job sometimes requires lifting heavy boxes or supplies which involves stooping or bending. For instance, they may have to load and care for equipment like printers. Those who spend many hours at a computer must take regular breaks to avoid eyestrain or repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. An ergonomic work station can reduce health issues.

The Secretarial occupation is generally not unionized. However, Secretaries in some areas may belong to their local Office and Professional Employees International Union of the AFL-CIO.

Will This Job Fit Me?

This occupation will appeal to those who like following set procedures and routines. The job of Secretary will satisfy those with conventional interests which can include working with data and details more than with ideas, such as using correct spelling and grammar. An ability to work well with people and be flexible is very helpful in this occupation. Also, conventional jobs usually have a clear line of authority to follow.

What Wages and Benefits Can I Expect?

Wages

The median wage in 2021 for Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in California was $45,805 annually, or $22.02 hourly. The median wage for Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in the Inland Empire Area was $44,167 annually, or $21.24 hourly. The median is the point at which half of the workers earn more and half earn less.

Benefits

Benefits for Secretaries often include vacation, sick leave, health and life insurance, profit sharing, and a pension plan. Some may get reimbursement for continuing education courses.

What Do Local Employers Say About Benefits?  Of the 19 employers in the Inland Empire Area, all provide vacation, and almost all provide medical insurance and dental insurance benefits to Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive who work full-time.

Of the 18 employers surveyed who responded in the Inland Empire Area, who provides medical benefits, most reported that they pay half or more of the cost of medical insurance for full-time, and all reported that they pay half or more of the cost of medical insurance for part-time Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

What is the Job Outlook?

Increased office automation and organizational restructuring will continue to make Secretaries more productive in coming years. Use of automated equipment is changing the distribution of work in many offices. In some cases, traditional secretarial duties such as typing, filing, photocopying, and bookkeeping are done by clerks in other departments or by the professionals themselves. However, many secretarial duties are of a personal, interactive nature and, therefore, are not easily automated. Because technology cannot substitute for personal skills, Secretaries will continue to play a key role in most organizations. In addition to jobs resulting from growth, numerous job openings will result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave this very large occupation for other reasons each year.

Job opportunities should be best for applicants with extensive knowledge of software applications, particularly experienced Secretaries.

Projections of Employment

In California, the number of Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive is expected to decline between 2018 and 2028.

In the Inland Empire Area, the number of Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive is expected to decline between 2018 and 2028.

How Do I Qualify?

Education, Training, and Other Requirements

A high school diploma is sufficient for many graduates who have basic office skills to qualify for entry-level secretarial positions. However, employers increasingly require extensive knowledge of software applications, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and database management.

Secretaries should be proficient in keyboarding, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. They should have good customer service, oral communication, and organizational skills. Discretion, good judgment, and the ability to work independently are increasingly important as the Secretary moves up to higher-level administrative positions. Versatility is also helpful to deal with all the office changes brought on by new technology.

Experience

Since Secretaries build knowledge and experience to make good judgments on the job, many employers will not hire applicants until they have two to three years of experience.

Early Career Planning

Those planning on entering the secretarial field should develop competency in general business skills, language, and computer use. Classes in English, business, and computers will help to prepare for this career. Candidates should also be familiar with office machine operations and computer software, such as word processing and spreadsheet programs. Clerical jobs held while in school and during vacations provide good experience and often lead to full-time employment after graduation. Some employers and local high schools have work study programs that give students a chance to learn on the job.

Work Study Programs

Training can be obtained through high school vocational education programs, business schools, vocational schools, and community colleges. California offers Regional Occupational Programs (ROP) for Secretaries. To find an ROP program near you, go to the California Association of Regional Occupational Centers and Programs Web site.

Continuing Education

California does not require Secretaries to complete continuing education to perform their duties. Secretaries tend to acquire more advanced skills through on-the-job instruction by other employees. Secretaries also must learn to operate new office technologies as they are brought into their work setting. They may attend classes or use online education to learn how to operate new office technologies such as scanners or software. Or, they may receive training from equipment and software vendors. In addition, Secretaries may opt to join professional associations and take advantage of the workshops and courses offered there for professional development.

Certification

There are no mandated licenses or certificates required to perform the duties of Secretary. However, there are certifications Secretaries can obtain to show proficiency in various computer software programs and other secretarial functions. Certification is also a means to advance in the career.

The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) offers the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) certification. A candidate must meet a combination of work experience and educational requirements, pass a test, and pay a fee to achieve either certificate. In order to recertify every five years, they must complete ninety continuing education hours. For more information, go to the U.S. Department of Labor's Career InfoNet Web site and scroll down to "Career Tools." Click on "Certification Finder" and follow the instructions to locate certification programs.

Where Can I Find Training?

There are two ways to search for training information:

• Search by Field of Study to find what programs are available and what schools offer those programs. You may use keywords such as: Secretary, Secretarial Science, and Administrative Assistant.
• Search by Training Provider to find schools by name, type of school, or location.

Contact the schools you are interested in to learn about the classes available, tuition and fees, and any prerequisite course work.

Where Would I Work?

The largest industries employing Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive are as follows:

What Employers Say...

The Employment Development Department surveyed 19 employers in the Inland Empire Area which employ 132 Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive. Here's what they had to say:

About Full-Time/Part-Time: All of these firms employ full-time and some employ part-time Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

About Work Experience:  Of the 19 employers surveyed in the Inland Empire Area, almost all require new hires to have prior work experience as Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive. In the table below, percentages may not add to 100% since employers may select more than one time period.

About Recruitment:  Of the 19 employers surveyed in the Inland Empire Area, many indicate it is easy to find applicants with experience who meet their minimum hiring requirements, while almost all indicate it is easy to find applicants without previous experience who meet their minimum hiring requirements to fill vacancies for Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

About Hiring:  Of the 19 employers surveyed in the Inland Empire Area, almost all expect the number of Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive they employ to remain stable during the coming year.

About Vacancies:  Of the 19 employers surveyed in the Inland Empire Area, 42 percent hired Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive during the past year. Of the hiring firms, 100 percent filled existing vacancies, 25 percent filled newly created positions, and 13 percent filled temporary assignments.

Finding a Job

Direct application to employers remains one of the most effective job search methods. Secretaries are employed in organizations of every type from service-providing industries to manufacturing and construction. Students can register with their school placement center for job leads. Professional associations and personnel departments of government agencies advertise job opportunities on the Internet as well. Those interested in working on a temporary basis may seek assignments through a temporary agency specializing in office administrative positions. Online job opening systems include JobCentral at www.jobcentral.com and CalJOBS^SM at www.caljobs.ca.gov.

To find your nearest One-Stop Career Center, go to Service Locator. View the helpful job search tips for more resources. (requires Adobe Reader).

Yellow Page Headings

You can focus your local job search by checking employers listed online or in your local telephone directory. Below are some suggested headings where you might find employers of Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

• Schools
• Government Agencies
• Dental Offices
• Religious Organizations
• Secretarial Services
• Insurance Agencies
• Staffing Agencies
• Manufacturing

Find Possible Employers

To locate a list of employers in your area, go to "Find Employers" on the Labor Market Information Web site:

• Select one of the top industries that employ the occupation. This will give you a list of employers in that industry in your area.
• Click on "View Filter Selections" to limit your list to specific cities or employer size.
• Click on an employer for the street address, telephone number, size of business, Web site, etc.
• Contact the employer for possible employment.

Where Could This Job Lead?

Office support positions serve businesses of every size and field possible, making it a good entry-level position to break into the field of one's choice. Office professional positions provide valuable preparation for moving up within a company for the Secretaries who broaden their knowledge of the company's operations. The next step up from Secretary might be Executive Secretary or office manager. Other potential positions a Secretary could move into are supervisory, middle management, instructor, or even sales representative. In smaller offices, promotions may be limited to pay raises based upon assuming increased responsibility.

Related Occupations

Below is a list of occupations related to Secretaries, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive with links to more information.

Other Sources

• International Association of Administrative Professionals
       http://www.iaap-hq.org/
• Association of Executive and Administrative Professionals
       http://www.theaeap.com/

These links are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement by EDD.

For the Career Professional

The following codes are provided to assist counselors, job placement workers, or other career professionals.