Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and 

executive

Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, 

scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, 

or providing information to callers.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact 

with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2023, verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 24.3 percent of secretaries and 

administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive, and were required not constantly, but more than once 

per hour for 68.1 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, 

and executive with cognitive and mental requirements, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Pace: Pause control 84.5 15.5

Interaction with general public 96.0 4.0

Working around crowds 0.6 99.4

Telework 8.1 91.9

Work review: Supervising others 3.4 96.6

Work review: Presence of supervisor 79.3 20.7

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal 

education required, 

credentials necessary, on-thejob training, and prior work 

experience necessary for 

average performance in jobs.

In 2023, credentials were 

required for 11.6 percent of 

secretaries and 

administrative assistants, 

except legal, medical, and 

executive. Prior work 

experience was required for 

69.1 percent and on-the-job 

training was required for 84.3 

percent.

A high school diploma was 

required for 81.9 percent of 

secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete hazards or 

difficulties that are in the vicinity of where 

jobs’ critical tasks are performed.

In 2023, greater than 99.5 percent of 

secretaries and administrative assistants, 

except legal, medical, and executive were 

not exposed to extreme cold, and greater 

than 99.5 percent were not exposed to 

extreme heat. Wetness was not present for 

99.2 percent, greater than 99.5 percent 

were not exposed to heavy vibrations, and 

95.5 percent were not exposed to the 

outdoors.

Physical demands

Refer to the physical activities required to 

perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in 

some cases, duration of these activities are 

published.

In 2023, keyboarding was required for 

greater than 99.5 percent of secretaries and 

administrative assistants, except legal, 

medical, and executive and was not 

required for less than 0.5 percent. For less 

than 0.5 percent of workers, keyboarding 

was seldom performed, for 27.0 percent 

keyboarding occurred occasionally, 70.0 

percent frequently, and for 2.7 percent 

keyboarding occurred constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 19.4 percent of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, 

medical, and executive and was not required for 80.6 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 94.1 percent of secretaries and administrative 

assistants, except legal, medical, and executive. On average, workers spent 86.6 percent of the workday sitting and 13.4 

percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, 

and executive with physical demands, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Choice of sitting or standing 94.1 5.9

Driving 10.2 89.8

Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs 9.7 90.3

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey