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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 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in operating equipment such as computers and photocopiers; and in using fax machines and electronic mail to send and receive messages and documents; may service office equipment
Interest in compiling information to maintain and prepare reports from manual or electronic files, inventories, mailing lists and databases
Interest in speaking to clients and the public to provide general information; may verify applications, receipts, expenditures, forms and other documents; may order office supplies and arrange for servicing of major repairs
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
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 2096 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Apr 15, 2024 and Apr 26, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Answer telephone and relay telephone calls and messages | 1938 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Schedule and confirm appointments | 1868 |
| Tasks: Order office supplies and maintain inventory | 1751 |
| Tasks: Answer electronic enquiries | 1586 |
| Tasks: Type and proofread correspondence, forms and other documents | 1544 |
| Tasks: Determine and establish office procedures and routines | 1455 |
| Tasks: Compile data, statistics and other information | 1386 |
| Tasks: Greet people and direct them to contacts or service areas | 1386 |
| Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years | 1284 |
| Tasks: Set up and maintain manual and computerized information filing systems | 1177 |
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 search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
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: 2019-2023 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.
In the 1241: Administrative assistants occupational group, 78.5% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 1241: Administrative assistants occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.7% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 445 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
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 example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
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 2016 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 [pdf] 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 | $16.00 | $29.59 | $21.92 | $22.00 |
| Overall | $18.00 | $35.25 | $25.99 | $25.85 |
| Top | $20.00 | $48.45 | $30.65 | $29.48 |
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 | $46,914 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | $39,959 |
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $57,497 |
| Utilities | $64,384 |
| Construction | $48,621 |
| Manufacturing | $50,114 |
| Wholesale Trade | $44,665 |
| Retail Trade | $41,167 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $50,225 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $39,936 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $45,265 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $54,655 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $46,192 |
| Educational Services | $39,805 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $40,946 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $39,213 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $45,661 |
| Public Administration | $55,685 |
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.
