Who's on the clock?

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants vs General Office Clerks

Side by side: how much of the shift AI and robots touch, pay, outlook and training.

Time card for secretaries and administrative assistants: 3h 53m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Secretaries and Administrative Assistants →

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Secretaries and administrative assistants or general office clerks: which will AI change more? AI and robots touch more of the day for general office clerks: 4h 30m of an 8-hour shift, against 3h 53m for secretaries and administrative assistants. Secretaries and administrative assistants earn more, a median of $47,540 against $45,010.

The two jobs share close skills, including reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, so moving between them is realistic for many people.

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
3h 53mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsLess AI time
  • 4h 7mDone by people
  • 39mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 3h 14mAI mostly does it alone
  • 0mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$47,540
U.S. workers
1.7 million
Outlook to 2035
-6%
Openings a year
164,000
Typical preparation
High school diploma, some training
See the full time card →
General Office Clerks
4h 30mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robots
  • 3h 30mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 3h 57mAI mostly does it alone
  • 33mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$45,010
U.S. workers
2.5 million
Outlook to 2035
-6%
Openings a year
249,000
Typical preparation
High school diploma, some training
See the full time card →

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals. 52m
  • Compose, type, and distribute meeting notes, routine correspondence, or reports, such as presentations or expense, statistical, or monthly reports. 39m
  • Create, maintain, and enter information into databases. 32m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material. 45m
  • Operate electronic mail systems and coordinate the flow of information, internally or with other organizations. 39m
  • Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions. 13m

General Office Clerks

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints. 1h 1m
  • Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages. 47m
  • Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities. 41m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer. 47m
  • Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers. 34m
  • Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail. 27m

Swap in a different job Highlighted numbers are the higher of the two. Hours are estimates from each job's time card.