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Administrative Professional, Administrative Support Personnel, Clerical Assistant, Information Clerk, Office Personnel, Secretary, Concierge
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
As today’s offices run on changing technology, the duties of administrative assistants are constantly changing as well. In general, administrative assistants handle a broad range of business and organizational details. They answer telephones, greet visitors, meet with clients, and respond to routine inquiries. They also may:
Administrative assistants work in office environments. They usually work standard office hours but may need to work overtime to meet deadlines. There is some work in virtual environments, which allows employees to work from any location using technology such as laptop computers, cellular phones, and internet access.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Click or tap a personality type for its description.
Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.
To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Administrative assistants
2023 OaSIS: 13110.00
The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.
The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.
The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.
To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.
Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.
This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:
Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.
This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:
Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.
This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:
Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:
Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking.
This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:
Administrative assistants need:
They should enjoy:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 117 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Oct 06, 2025 and Nov 04, 2025.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Answer telephone and relay telephone calls and messages | 108 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Schedule and confirm appointments | 102 |
| Tasks: Order office supplies and maintain inventory | 102 |
| Tasks: Answer electronic enquiries | 87 |
| Tasks: Compile data, statistics and other information | 75 |
| Tasks: Greet people and direct them to contacts or service areas | 75 |
| Tasks: Type and proofread correspondence, forms and other documents | 71 |
| Tasks: Determine and establish office procedures and routines | 65 |
| Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years | 62 |
| Tasks: Set up and maintain manual and computerized information filing systems | 59 |
Most employers, particularly in specialized fields, require administrative assistants to have related post-secondary education and computer skills.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Administrative assistants may work in any industry. Some are self-employed and work remotely from home. Experienced administrative assistants may advance from routine clerical tasks to a skilled specialty or to supervising other office assistants.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Administrative assistants
2016 NOC: 1241
78.5% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Salaries for administrative assistants vary depending on their qualifications, the responsibilities that come with the position, and the type of employer. For example, a unionized position in a large corporation may be significantly more than a position in a small start-up or a not-for-profit organization.
Information about earnings in the not-for-profit sector is available from the 2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey’s supplemental nonprofit sector report.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $17.00 | $29.39 | $22.79 | $23.07 |
| Overall | $19.67 | $37.53 | $27.25 | $26.75 |
| Top | $21.00 | $50.00 | $31.02 | $28.04 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $50,062 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | $43,211 |
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $68,468 |
| Utilities | $65,339 |
| Construction | $52,443 |
| Manufacturing | $54,586 |
| Wholesale Trade | $51,176 |
| Retail Trade | $45,450 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $52,815 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $46,277 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $50,240 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $54,272 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $49,624 |
| Educational Services | $45,318 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $45,017 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $44,418 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $47,705 |
| Public Administration | $56,262 |
International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) website: www.iaap-hq.org
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2024. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
