Receptionists vs Secretaries & Admin Assistants
Median pay is about $10k higher for Secretaries & Admin Assistants. Both usually start with the same education: high school.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Receptionists | Secretaries & Admin Assistants |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $38,010 | $47,540, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $33,960 | $38,830, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $45,130 | $58,000, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | -1.7% Declining, higher | -6.0% Declining |
| Openings a year | 105,100 | 163,900 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school | High school |
| Difficulty modeled | 1.2 / 5 | 1.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | High | Very high |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 72nd pct | 89th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing, monitoring.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.