How long does it take to become a Secretary?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a secretary. That is the time it takes to learn specific secretary skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 5 to 7 years years to become a secretary.

Do you need any qualifications to be a secretary?

Yes, you do need qualifications to be a secretary. Most secretaries without a traditional post-high school degree often need at least four years of experience before being considered for a position as a secretary. Those who have completed their bachelor's or associate's degrees only need to complete three years.

Is being a secretary easy?

Yes, being a secretary is easy. While there may be periods when the work stacks up to somewhat stressful levels, the average secretary in the industry has reported a relaxed atmosphere and scope of responsibility. Work-life balance has also been reported as being easygoing and balanced.

What degree do you need to be a secretary?

You do not need a degree to become a secretary, however, an associate's degree in secretarial science can help obtain work in the field. This degree gives a well-rounded education in business operations and office practices.

What should I study to become a secretary?

To become a secretary, you should study skills like bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing. These skills will help you become a successful secretary. While a high school diploma is required, having a college degree or specialized skills will make you more attractive to potential employers.

What is a secretary and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

A secretary manages administrative tasks and supports executives or departments within an organization. They answer calls, schedule appointments, organize files, manage correspondence, and maintain office supplies. They also coordinate meetings, take minutes, and prepare reports for other executives or stakeholders. Secretaries are skilled in multitasking, communication, and time management. They often act as the first point of contact for clients and visitors and ensure the smooth functioning of any organization.

What general advice would you give to a Secretary?

Anne McConnell Ph.D.

Professor, West Virginia State University

I would say it's important to be very attentive to the way you communicate with your employers, managers, and co-workers. Even sending an e-mail can be an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism and communication skills. Some people think that no one knows how to write anymore, or how to communicate in a professional way. I don't think that's true. But we don't always think about how our writing can be a tool to communicate our competence and seriousness. If you know how to write and communicate professionally-which college grads do-then make sure to demonstrate that in the workplace.

ScoreSecretaryUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $36,442

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.0

Growth Rate -8%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 3.85%

Black or African American 9.42%

Hispanic or Latino 16.47%

Unknown 3.88%

White 65.65%

Gender

female 89.87%

male 10.13%

Age - 52

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52

Stress Level

6.0

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.4

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.6

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Secretary?

Pros

Possibility of flexible hours
Can gain valuable experience in office administration
Opportunities for advancement within the company
Job can be relatively stable and secure
May have access to benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans

Cons

Could face high stress or pressure situations
May have to deal with difficult or demanding people
The job can be isolating, with limited social interaction or teamwork opportunities
Could face job insecurity due to automation and outsourcing
Salary may not be commensurate with education or experience level

Key steps to become a secretary

Explore secretary education requirements

Most common secretary degrees

Bachelor's

38.2 %

Associate

23.5 %

High School Diploma

23.1 %

Start to develop specific secretary skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	14.85%
Telephone Calls	11.49%
Payroll	8.64%
Scheduling Appointments	8.60%
Word Processing	5.43%

Complete relevant secretary training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New secretaries learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a secretary based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real secretary resumes.

Gain additional secretary certifications

Secretary certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific secretary certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for secretaries include Word 2010 Certification and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA).

More About Certifications

Research secretary duties and responsibilities

Manage and oversee all STO relate actions task to OSD impacting future and current operations in STO.
Manage financial bookkeeping efficiently for the company using QuickBooks.
Lead DoD team that assist Pakistan in gaining military capabilities to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the Taliban.
Present information orally, using Microsoft PowerPoint to military officials on various office and personnel administrative functions.

Prepare your secretary resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your secretary resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a secretary resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Secretary Resume templates

Build a professional Secretary resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Secretary resume.

Apply for secretary jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a secretary job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do secretaries rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Secretary reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022

Pros

Writing a message,Organizing receipts and expenses and sending them out when needed

Cons

Failure to comply with working hours, theft and fraud,

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

It my passion to help people in need. It makes me feel good to see people the Youth do well in the life

Cons

I don't like to see anyone stuck in between and not being helped.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

everything except phones : Meeting,greeting, customer service, interviewing, on boarding, recruiting, presenting, etc.

Cons

phones - because of my accent

What is a secretary and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Secretary?

What are the pros and cons of being a Secretary?

Secretary career paths

Key steps to become a secretary

Explore secretary education requirements

Most common secretary degrees

Start to develop specific secretary skills

Complete relevant secretary training and internships

Gain additional secretary certifications

Research secretary duties and responsibilities

Prepare your secretary resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Secretary Resume templates

Apply for secretary jobs

How Did You Land Your First Secretary Job

Average secretary salary

How do secretaries rate their job?

Secretary reviews

Secretary FAQs

How long does it take to become a Secretary?

Do you need any qualifications to be a secretary?

Is being a secretary easy?

What degree do you need to be a secretary?

What should I study to become a secretary?

Search for secretary jobs

Secretary jobs by state