Secretary (General)
SOC 43-6014.00 · ESCO 3343 · OSCA 522131
Role snapshot
Overview
Provides comprehensive administrative and clerical support to individuals, teams, or departments by managing calendars, preparing correspondence, organising and maintaining physical and digital files, taking meeting minutes, and handling phone and email enquiries. Ensures efficient office operations and supports effective communication.
Enables smooth and efficient operation of offices and departments by managing administrative tasks, ensuring timely communication, and maintaining organised records, thereby freeing up professional staff to focus on core responsibilities.
On the job
- Manage and maintain complex calendars, scheduling appointments and meetings.
- Prepare and edit correspondence, reports, presentations, and other documents.
- Organise and maintain physical and electronic filing systems, ensuring document accessibility and security.
- Answer and direct phone calls, handle incoming and outgoing mail, and manage email communications.
- Take accurate minutes during meetings and distribute them to relevant attendees.
Tools & technology
Average salary
Job outlook
StableDemand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Education & training
Typically requires a high school diploma or GED, often supplemented by a vocational certificate or associate's degree in office administration or secretarial studies. Relevant work experience may substitute for formal education.
AI impact outlook
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detail
Note — this is our current view. AI is moving fast, so we revisit these ratings.
Show how this was assessed Hide the detailWhy this role received this rating
Core task exposure
high
How much of the role’s important work could AI perform?
Drafting correspondence, managing calendars, organizing files, and transcribing meeting minutes are highly susceptible to AI automation.
End-to-end automation
moderate
Can AI complete the work without substantial human involvement?
While many administrative workflows can be automated, dynamic prioritization, nuanced communication, and complex coordination still require human oversight.
Adoption pressure
high
How likely are employers to introduce AI into this work?
Employers are highly motivated to adopt AI for administrative tasks due to significant potential for efficiency gains and cost reduction.
Human dependence
moderate
How much does success depend on human judgement, relationships and accountability?
Success requires human judgment in prioritizing tasks, discretion with sensitive information, complex problem-solving, and interpersonal skills for smooth team support.
Protective — a higher rating lowers the overall score.
Role adaptability
moderate
How easily can the role evolve as AI takes on more tasks?
The role can adapt towards executive assistant, project coordinator, or specialized administrative roles focusing on strategic support.
Shown for context — not part of the score.
What AI may take on
These are the parts of the role most likely to be automated or significantly accelerated.
- Drafting routine correspondence and emails
- Scheduling appointments and managing complex calendars
- Organizing and retrieving physical and electronic files
- Transcribing meeting minutes and generating summaries
- Automating repetitive data entry and report generation
Where people remain essential
These parts continue to depend heavily on human judgement, relationships and accountability.
- Anticipating executive needs and proactively solving problems
- Exercising discretion with confidential information
- Coordinating complex projects requiring human input
- Managing nuanced interpersonal dynamics and stakeholder relations
- Serving as a trusted liaison between departments or external parties
- Troubleshooting technology and logistical issues in real-time
How the role may evolve
The drafting is automated. The strategic support and coordination are not.
The secretarial role will move away from creating content and managing data, becoming more focused on providing strategic support, facilitating communication, and coordinating complex organizational needs.
Strengthen your future fit
- Mastering AI-powered writing and scheduling tools
- Developing advanced project coordination and management skills
- Strengthening strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Cultivating exceptional interpersonal communication and discretion
- Becoming proficient in data organization and information architecture
- Assessment horizon
- 3–7 years
- Confidence
- High
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
- Methodology
- v1.0
This assessment reflects current AI capabilities and expected adoption patterns. Actual impacts will vary by industry, employer and the way each role is performed.
Career pathways
WHERE YOU COULD GO
CURRENT ROLE
Secretary (General)
Personal & Professional Services
ADJACENT MOVES
STARTING POINTS
Who thrives here
Interest profile
conventional · CES
Individuals who enjoy structured tasks, organising information, and providing support to others, combined with a social inclination for interaction and an enterprising drive to manage and implement, often find success in this role.
Personality characteristics
Organised
Excels at creating and maintaining structured systems and processes to ensure efficiency.
Supportive
Enjoys assisting others and contributing to a positive, functional work environment.
Methodical
Prefers clear procedures and systematic approaches to administrative tasks.
Sociable
Comfortable interacting with diverse individuals and acting as a primary point of contact.
Calm under pressure
Maintains composure and efficiency when faced with multiple demands or deadlines.
Best for
- Individuals who thrive in a structured environment and enjoy bringing order to administrative tasks.
- Those who find satisfaction in supporting others and enabling team productivity.
- Professionals who value accuracy, reliability, and clear communication in their work.
Watch out for
- The role can be highly routine-driven, which may not suit those seeking constant novelty or creative freedom.
- Requires excellent attention to detail and accuracy, as errors in administrative tasks can have significant consequences.
A week in the life
A representative working week for a Secretary (General) — where the deep work, meetings, and admin actually land.
Real people. Real results.
Thousands of people
can't be wrong.
Frequently asked questions about Secretary (General) roles
What does a Secretary (General) do?
A Secretary (General) provides comprehensive administrative and clerical support to individuals, teams, or departments by managing calendars, preparing correspondence, organising and maintaining physical and digital files, taking meeting minutes, and handling phone and email enquiries. Ensures efficient office operations and supports effective communication. Enables smooth and efficient operation of offices and departments by managing administrative tasks, ensuring timely communication, and maintaining organised records, thereby freeing up professional staff to focus on core responsibilities.
How much does a Secretary (General) earn?
A Secretary (General) earns a median of $48,000 per year in the US, typically ranging from $35,000 to $65,000.
What qualifications do you need to become a Secretary (General)?
To become a Secretary (General), typically requires a high school diploma or GED, often supplemented by a vocational certificate or associate's degree in office administration or secretarial studies. Relevant work experience may substitute for formal education.
What personality suits a Secretary (General)?
Secretary (General) roles tend to suit people who are highly conscientious — precise, organised and strong on follow-through (Conscientiousness 82/100) and steady under pressure — deadlines and setbacks do not rattle them easily (Emotional Stability 70/100). The traits that matter most in the role are Organised, Supportive, Methodical and Sociable. Excels at creating and maintaining structured systems and processes to ensure efficiency. On interests, Secretary (General) maps to a CES Holland Code profile — individuals who enjoy structured tasks, organising information, and providing support to others, combined with a social inclination for interaction and an enterprising drive to manage and implement, often find success in this role.
Who does a Secretary (General) role suit?
A Secretary (General) role is usually a strong fit for these reasons. Strong Conventional affinity: the role rewards meticulous organisation, structured processes, and attention to detail. High Conscientiousness: success in this role requires reliability, thoroughness, and a strong sense of duty. Opportunity for social interaction and providing essential support, aligning with Social interests.
What are the downsides of being a Secretary (General)?
Secretary (General) roles come with trade-offs worth weighing up. The role can be highly routine-driven, which may not suit those seeking constant novelty or creative freedom. Requires excellent attention to detail and accuracy, as errors in administrative tasks can have significant consequences.
What is the work environment like for a Secretary (General)?
Work as a Secretary (General) is mostly office-based with onsite arrangements common, semi-structured — a mix of set processes and self-directed work, a moderate pace and medium exposure to clients or stakeholders. Around 50% of the week is focused deep work.
What skills do you need to be a Secretary (General)?
Core skills for a Secretary (General) include Administrative support, Calendar management, Document preparation, Organisational skills, Communication skills and Record keeping.
How do you become a Secretary (General)?
Common entry routes into Secretary (General) roles include Administrative Assistant, Clerk and Receptionist.
What career progression is there for a Secretary (General)?
From a Secretary (General) role, common next steps include Office Manager and Executive Assistant; lateral moves include Project Coordinator.
What is the job outlook for Secretary (General) roles?
The outlook for Secretary (General) roles is currently rated stable. Demand is steady. This is an established role with consistent hiring across sectors.
Will AI replace Secretary (General) roles?
Traitstack rates automation risk for Secretary (General) roles at 74 out of 100, which is strong. Many drafting, scheduling, and organizational tasks are susceptible to automation, shifting the role towards complex coordination and nuanced interpersonal support. AI is most likely to take on drafting routine correspondence and emails, scheduling appointments and managing complex calendars and organizing and retrieving physical and electronic files. Anticipating executive needs and proactively solving problems, exercising discretion with confidential information and coordinating complex projects requiring human input stay with people. The drafting is automated. The strategic support and coordination are not. That score measures how much of the work could change, not the likelihood the job disappears. It is Traitstack's current view, revisited as AI capability moves.