How to Find Remote Administrative Assistant Jobs

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), one of the largest job categories in the United States is administrative assistants with over 3.3 million positions in 2020.  However, the occupation is also expected to incur some of the largest losses in jobs over the next decade. The BLS projects over 200K, or 7%, of jobs will disappear between 2020 and 2030. These losses are due to several factors, including improvements in technology, automation software, and offshoring of services.

Despite these losses, there are still a lot of administrative assistant jobs out there (about 324K openings per year). There are also a growing number of remote opportunities available since the pandemic has proven that assistants don’t need to be outside the boss’ office door to be effective. The increase in 100% remote companies and the implementation of more telecommute and hybrid work models are also contributing to the rise in remote opportunities.

Everything You Need to Know About Remote Administrative Assistant Jobs

The role of an administrative assistant is to help an organization operate efficiently. Common tasks include:

In a remote role, administrative assistants need to be technically savvy and have a well-equipped home office to be effective. Many of these positions are asynchronous. However, others require availability during specific business hours to accommodate the work schedules of their clients or customers.

How to Become a Remote Administrative Assistant

Although only a high school diploma is required for many remote administrative assistant jobs, additional experience and training are helpful. This is because office-based administrative assistant jobs rely primarily on on-the-job training, and employers are hesitant to hire someone for a remote position without demonstrated ability. Many community colleges and technical schools offer training in areas such as office procedures and business communications. In addition, there are opportunities for specialized training in fields such as law and healthcare. Certifications in popular software packages such as Microsoft Word and Excel can be helpful in obtaining a job as well.

Salary Information

According to the BLS, the median income for all administrative assistants and secretaries was $40,990 per year and $19.71 per hour in 2020. However, pay varies depending on the specialization:

Common Remote Administrative Assistant Jobs

Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive form the largest subcategory of administrative assistants with jobs available in almost every industry. This means that there is an unlimited number of different roles and titles. In addition, some hybrid and remote roles may require employees to live locally. Drawing on the Virtual Vocations remote jobs database, examples of position titles might include:

Entry-Level Remote Administrative Assistant Jobs

As noted above, some employers are hesitant to hire an individual with no specialized training or job experience for a remote administrative assistant role. However, the pandemic has adjusted expectations, and there are a growing number of opportunities for remote entry-level administrative assistants.

Virtual Assistant Jobs

There is a new category of administrative assistant jobs that offer the ultimate flexibility, virtual assistants. This is because virtual assistants can work freelance, as independent contractors, or as employees for a specialized remote staffing agency. In addition, hours can be part-time or full-time, and availability can be negotiated.

While traditional administrative assistant jobs may be on the decline, the demand for virtual assistants is on the rise. The downside is that virtual assistants living in the U.S. may have to compete against offshore assistants who can charge much less for their services.

Remote Executive Administrative Assistant Jobs

Experienced administrative assistants can obtain remote positions delivering high-level support for the top executives of an organization. The responsibilities of executive administrative assistants are usually more complex and can also involve managing clerical staff. Jobs in this area pay the best but are also on the decline.

Telecommute Legal Administrative Assistant Jobs

To obtain a remote job in a law firm or legal department as a legal administrative assistant, applicants need an understanding of legal terminology and procedures. Responsibilities in these positions can include research and the preparation of legal documents under the supervision of an attorney or a paralegal. The outlook for these positions is dismal, with an expected decline in jobs of 21% over the next 10 years.

Remote Medical Administrative Assistants

Applicants need knowledge of medical terminology, medical codes, electronic health records, and medical procedures to obtain a position in this field. The responsibilities of medical administrative assistants can include working directly with patients, processing insurance payments, updating records, and communicating with other healthcare providers.

Employment for medical administrative assistants is projected to grow 11% over the next 10 years due to overall growth in the healthcare industry as baby boomers age.

Companies Hiring for Remote Administrative Assistant Jobs

Remote jobs in this field are available with organizations across all industries and market sectors. Examples of companies that frequently hire for remote administrative assistant jobs include:

Allstate Insurance Company

Allstate Insurance Company is a publicly-held property and casualty insurance provider.

Beacon Hill Staffing Group

Beacon Hill Staffing Group, LLC is a group of agencies that offers a variety of staffing solutions. They operate several specialty staffing divisions including Beacon Hill Associates, Beacon Hill Financial, Beacon Hill HR, Beacon Hill Government Services, Beacon Hill Legal, Beacon Hill Pharma, and Beacon Hill Technologies.

UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group is a diversified global healthcare company with a presence in almost every branch of healthcare-related services. The company provides healthcare coverage, benefits, and IT support for clinical care.

Elite Virtual Assistants

Elite Virtual Assistants is a staffing and recruiting agency that specializes in recruiting personal assistants. Its assistants help small business owners make more efficient use of their time.

Conclusion

Administrative assistant jobs remain a good option for people who want to work remotely and have a flexible schedule. In addition, with few educational requirements and a growing number of remote entry-level positions and staffing firms, this is an occupation that is fairly easy to break into as well. Despite an overall decline in jobs projected over the next decade, there are still plenty of opportunities available and job growth in virtual and medical assistant specializations.

What type of administrative assistant job would you like to do? What attracts you to this field? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your thoughts and tips. We’d love to hear from you!