by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary involves the study of Executive Assistant/executive Secretary. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Perform The Duties Of Special Assistants And/or Personal Secretaries For Business Executives And Top Management. Includes Instruction In Business Communications, Principles Of Business Law, Public Relations, Scheduling And Travel Management, Secretarial Accounting, Filing Systems And Records Management, Conference And Meeting Recording, Report Preparation, Office Equipment And Procedures, Office Supervisory Skills, And Professional Standards And Legal Requirements. Continue reading for the key facts every executive assistant/executive secretary student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering executive assistant/executive secretary programs.
In the U.S., executive assistant/executive secretary is a popular field of study, with 1,380 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary Schools ranking analyzes these 78 schools to determine the best overall colleges for executive assistant/executive secretary students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of executive assistant/executive secretary programs later in this article.
Studies in Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations executive assistant/executive secretary graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a executive assistant/executive secretary program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a executive assistant/executive secretary major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several executive assistant/executive secretary degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 282 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 326 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 45 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 583 |
People currently working in careers related to executive assistant/executive secretary tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 34.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 25.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 19.1% |
| Some college courses | 16.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Master’s degree | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in executive assistant/executive secretary careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in executive assistant/executive secretary can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to executive assistant/executive secretary.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to executive assistant/executive secretary.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 1,827,394 | -3.9% |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | 836,240 | 1.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of executive assistant/executive secretary graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $24,716 |
| 4 years | $28,352 |
| 5 years | $31,368 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for executive assistant/executive secretary graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers executive assistant/executive secretary grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $59,046 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $42,498 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $27,636 |
With 78 different executive assistant/executive secretary programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased executive assistant/executive secretary school rankings to help you.
Students interested in executive assistant/executive secretary, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
