Secretary: Job Duties, Skills and Salary 2025

What Does a Secretary do?

A Secretary is a professional who supports the administrative functions of offices and organizations. Their role includes managing communication, scheduling appointments, preparing documents, and maintaining files. Secretaries are essential for the smooth operation of any business, providing crucial support that allows other staff to perform efficiently. They handle confidential information and serve as an intermediary among staff, clients, and other external partners. Secretaries need strong organizational skills, proficiency in office software, and excellent communication abilities to manage daily tasks effectively.

Secretaries often specialize in specific areas such as legal, medical, or executive administrative support, adapting their skills to the needs of the industry or the executives they assist.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Secretarys in the Administrative field handle essential tasks and contribute significantly to achieving team and organizational goals. Here are some of their primary responsibilities:

• Answer phone calls, take notes/messages, and redirect calls when appropriate.
• Manage daily/weekly/monthly agendas and arrange new meetings and appointments.
• Prepare and disseminate correspondence, memos, and forms.
• File and update contact information of employees, customers, suppliers, and external partners.
• Support and facilitate the completion of regular reports.
• Develop and maintain a filing system.
• Make travel arrangements.
• Document expenses and hand in reports.

How to Become a Secretary

Launching a career as a Secretary requires a specific education. We outline the essential qualifications, skills, and steps to enter this field.

Qualification

• High school diploma; additional qualifications as an Administrative assistant or Secretary are a plus.
• Proven experience as a secretary or administrative assistant.
• Familiarity with office organization and optimization techniques.
• High degree of multi-tasking and time management capability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office.

Requirements & Skills

• Integrity and professionalism in handling confidential information.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Punctuality and reliability.
• Attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Secretary Salary Guide

Wondering what Secretarys earn? Explore salary ranges by experience, and career tips to maximize your earning potential.

The average salary for a Secretary in the U.S. is approximately $37,500 per year and can vary from entry-level to senior positions. Secretarys may receive a wide range of benefits.

Secretary Salary Career Steps