What Does an Executive Assistant Do?
What is an executive assistant? Executive assistants provide high-level administrative support to executives in a company or corporation. Like secretaries or personal assistants, they conduct clerical work. However, executive assistants also perform duties that can have an effect on the success or profitability of a business, such as helping with marketing research, training staff, and scheduling important meetings.
Executive Assistant Job Description, Requirements, and Salary
Educational requirements range from some completed coursework to a bachelor's degree, and these assistants usually receive more training on the job. Prior work experience in an administrative assisting position is usually required.
Executive Administrative Assistant Salary
As of May 2019, the median annual salary for all executive secretaries and administrative assistants was $60,890, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the same source though, there is a projected 9% decline in job growth from 2019 and 2029 for all executive secretaries and administrative assistants.
As with any profession, the median salary for executive assistants varies geographically to account for differences in the cost of living in various different cities and states. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the five states with the highest average salary for executive assistants are:
- District of Columbia (mean salary $73,970)
- New York (mean salary $73,450)
- Connecticut (mean salary $73,410)
- California (mean salary $71,990)
- Maryland (mean salary $69,900)
The five states with the highest employment level for executive assistants are New York, California, Texas, Illinois, and Florida.
Job Duties of an Executive Assistant
We've already mentioned some of the job duties of executive assistants, but now let's take a closer look at the various components of the executive assistant job description and learn what it takes to work in the EA position.
Provide Administrative Assistance
In many aspects, the role of executive assistant is similar to that of a secretary or administrative assistant. They perform clerical tasks, like accepting and making phone calls, setting business meeting agendas, sending memos, accepting visitors, reviewing incoming reports, and setting the executive's daily schedule.
Conduct Research
Executive assistants are sometimes asked to conduct market research and prepare statistical reports that are used by executives to make business decisions. Since the reports can potentially impact the direction of a company, executive assistants must have a keen understanding of business concepts. Executive assistants are usually required to hold a degree in either general business or the field in which they work; for example, an executive assistant to a financial officer might hold a bachelor's degree in finance. Some executive assistants even possess a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Act as a Gatekeeper
Company executives are usually well-known public figures with a great deal of influence in their communities. As such, the time and attention of an executive are constantly in demand. The role of 'gatekeeper' usually falls to the executive assistant. He or she controls which phone calls and reports go through to the executive, as well as what meetings are scheduled. To fulfill this responsibility, executive assistants must clearly understand the goals, values, and needs of both the company and the executive.
Supervise and Train Clerical Staff
In the hierarchy that is a company executive's clerical team, the executive assistant is at the top. However, executive assistants often work closely with lower-level administrative assistants to complete certain tasks that require collaboration. In many companies, executive assistants supervise the work of other administrative assistants and coordinate tasks. Because they have the most comprehensive understanding of the needs of the executive and the operation of clerical staff, executive assistants often train incoming administrative assistants.
Difference Between Executive Assistant and Administrative Assistant
What does an administrative assistant do, and how is this different from an executive assistant? Executive assistants and administrative assistants both work for companies or corporations and help keep operations running smoothly. The executive assistant definition typically involves working for the company's top-ranking officials. In addition to standard administrative duties, they support these high-level positions by doing research, preparing reports, and dealing with information requests. Executive assistants may be CEO assistants. Administrative assistants, in contrast, generally focus on the administrative duties like scheduling meetings and answering phone calls.
Executive assistants are people who provide administrative assistance, like answering phones and setting meetings; help conduct market research; act as a gatekeeper for the company and executive; and supervise and train clerical staff.
