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AI Automation Index
Will AI Replace Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Task-level automation exposure for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive: 31 O*NET tasks scored against their work activities, plus the simulator.
E-E-A-T Verified
Developed & audited by Gini Loh Automation Exposure
59%
weighted task index
31 of 31 tasks scored
Median Salary
$47,540 / year
BLS OEWS, May 2025 — this exact occupation
Employment Level
Very High
1,706,790 people hold this job — size, not growth
Projected 2025–35
-6.0%
employment change
163,900 openings a year · BLS line item
Pay by state
BLS OEWS publishes 54 state estimates for this occupation. Each is its own survey estimate, not the national median adjusted for local prices.
$25,730 – $59,910
Highest medians
District of Columbia $59,910
Massachusetts $57,940
Washington $57,330
Connecticut $57,210
California $55,400
Lowest medians
Puerto Rico $25,730
Guam $36,030
Mississippi $37,340
Arkansas $37,630
Louisiana $38,790
State figures come from the 43-6014 row in the May 2025 state panel. States where the estimate was suppressed or too small to publish are absent.
What the score is made of
Each task is mapped to its work activities, scored for AI automation potential, and weighted by how important those activities are to the job. These are the components.
Automation potential 59%
Importance-weighted mean of the scored tasks. This is the headline index.
Physical work 12%
Share of weighted tasks in hands-on or machine-operating work activities.
Judgment & influence 42%
Share in analysis, decisions, teaching, directing, advising, or caring for others.
Routine administration 27%
Share in documenting, recording, and administrative activities.
Rewritten by O*NET 0%
Share of weighted tasks O*NET rewrote in a recent update. Reported, not folded into the score.
Consequence of error 6/100
Low
O*NET's own rating of how serious an uncorrectable mistake would be here — respondents, not us. Deliberately not in the index: the score measures what AI can do with the task content, and multiplying it by stakes would be our judgment dressed as data.
Constituent Task Mix
31 tasks for this occupation, weighted by work-activity importance. Shares below are of total task weight, not task count.
High exposure (≥ 60% of the task is automatable) 54%
17 tasks
Medium exposure (≥ 35%) 28%
9 tasks
Low exposure (below 35%) 18%
5 tasks
How would you survive?
Move your week away from the high-exposure tasks and toward the ones that need judgment. The simulator recalculates the index as you shift the mix.
Simulate Upskilling →Constituent Tasks
#2790 · Core · 72% automatable
Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.
interpersonal — Call routing automatable; nuanced calls need human
Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
#2791 · Core · 47% automatable
Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.
decision support — Routing referrals from criteria; human confirms fit
Discuss account status or activity with customers or patrons. Refer customers to appropriate personnel. Greet customers, patrons, or visitors.
#20281 · Core · 85% automatable
Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.
data analysis — Data entry into systems automatable
Enter information into databases or software programs.
#20280 · Core · 30% automatable
Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
physical manipulation — Operating computers is physical interface work
Operate computers or computerized equipment.
#20283 · Core · 43% automatable
Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
text generation — Reporting maintenance problems is routine messaging
Operate office equipment. Report maintenance or equipment problems to appropriate personnel.
#20282 · Core · 68% automatable
Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.
data analysis — Record personnel information into databases
Select resources needed to accomplish tasks. Record personnel information.
#2813 · Core · 30% automatable
Operate electronic mail systems and coordinate the flow of information, internally or with other organizations.
physical manipulation — Operating comms hardware needs hands-on setup and tuning
Operate communications equipment or systems.
#2801 · Core · 80% automatable
Schedule and confirm appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors.
decision support — Calendar scheduling automatable; exceptions need human judgment
Schedule appointments.
#2800 · Core · 80% automatable
Maintain scheduling and event calendars.
decision support — Calendar scheduling automatable; exceptions need human judgment
Schedule appointments.
#20284 · Core · 48% automatable
Compose, type, and distribute meeting notes, routine correspondence, or reports, such as presentations or expense, statistical, or monthly reports.
text generation — Summarize meeting proceedings; human verifies accuracy
Record information from meetings or other formal proceedings. Issue documentation or identification to customers or employees. Distribute materials to employees or customers.
#2795 · Core · 68% automatable
Complete forms in accordance with company procedures.
text generation — Compliance docs drafted; human owns regulatory accuracy
Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
#2793 · Core · 85% automatable
Locate and attach appropriate files to incoming correspondence requiring replies.
data analysis — Compiling data or documentation is largely automatable
Compile data or documentation.
#2805 · Core · 85% automatable
Conduct searches to find needed information, using such sources as the Internet.
information retrieval — Search files and references for info
Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information.
#2794 · Core · 20% automatable
Open, read, route, and distribute incoming mail or other materials and answer routine letters.
physical manipulation — Routing physical mail requires sorting by hand
Route mail to correct destinations. Distribute incoming mail.
#2797 · Core · 88% automatable
Review work done by others to check for correct spelling and grammar, ensure that company format policies are followed, and recommend revisions.
text generation — Proofreading text for accuracy is core LLM strength
Proofread documents, records, or other files to ensure accuracy.
#2796 · Core · 20% automatable
Make copies of correspondence or other printed material.
physical manipulation — Physical operation of office machines and jams
Operate office equipment.
#2799 · Core · 78% automatable
Learn to operate new office technologies as they are developed and implemented.
information retrieval — AI curates updates; human maintains working knowledge
Maintain current knowledge related to work activities.
#20289 · Core · 40% automatable
Train and assist staff with computer usage.
interpersonal — General personnel training is human-led and relational
Train personnel.
#2804 · Core · 52% automatable
Order and dispense supplies.
decision support — Ordering via systems automatable; human approves spend
Distribute materials to employees or customers. Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
#20290 · Core · 83% automatable
Prepare conference or event materials, such as flyers or invitations.
text generation — Prepare reference materials from source content
Prepare informational or reference materials.
#20285 · Supplemental · 55% automatable
Perform payroll functions, such as maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.
data analysis — Financial execution software-mediated; authorization human
Execute sales or other financial transactions.
#20286 · Supplemental · 45% automatable
Collect and deposit money into accounts, disburse funds from cash accounts to pay bills or invoices, keep records of collections and disbursements, and ensure accounts are balanced.
data analysis — Financial execution software-mediated; authorization human
Execute sales or other financial transactions. Collect deposits, payments or fees.
#2809 · Supplemental · 65% automatable
Establish work procedures or schedules and keep track of the daily work of clerical staff.
decision support — Draft schedules; human owns fairness and coverage
Develop organizational policies or programs. Prepare employee work schedules.
#2806 · Supplemental · 75% automatable
Provide services to customers, such as order placement or account information.
decision support — Ordering via systems automatable; human approves spend
Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
#2808 · Supplemental · 65% automatable
Prepare and mail checks.
text generation — Sending digital materials automatable; physical mailing human
Execute sales or other financial transactions. Send information, materials or documentation.
#2812 · Supplemental · 76% automatable
Arrange conference, meeting, or travel reservations for office personnel.
information retrieval — Booking travel and reservations via tools
Schedule operational activities. Make travel, accommodations, or entertainment arrangements for others.
#2814 · Supplemental · 33% automatable
Supervise other clerical staff and provide training and orientation to new staff.
interpersonal — Supervising clerical staff is relational management work
Supervise clerical or administrative personnel.
#2802 · Supplemental · 40% automatable
Manage projects or contribute to committee or team work.
interpersonal — Managing clerical staff is supervisory accountability
Manage clerical or administrative activities.
#20287 · Supplemental · 45% automatable
Coordinate conferences, meetings, or special events, such as luncheons or graduation ceremonies.
interpersonal — Operational coordination requires live human orchestration
Coordinate operational activities.
#2803 · Supplemental · 75% automatable
Mail newsletters, promotional material, or other information.
text generation — Sending digital materials automatable; physical mailing human
Send information, materials or documentation.
#20288 · Supplemental · 68% automatable
Develop or maintain internal or external company Web sites.
text generation — App code generated; human reviews and deploys
Develop computer or online applications.
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How this was scored
- 1. Tasks. O*NET task statements for this occupation, from a release whose newest record is dated 08/2026.
- 2. Work activities. Each task maps to 1–5 Detailed Work Activities; each activity belongs to one of 41 Generalized Work Activities that O*NET rates for importance (1–5) in this occupation.
- 3. Automation potential. Every work activity carries one score for how far current AI can perform it end-to-end. Tasks inherit the mean of their activities.
- 4. Weighting. Task weight = 0.35 + 0.65 × (importance − 1)/4, scaled by how often the task is performed and by 0.7 for Supplemental tasks. Importance is the task's own O*NET rating where it exists (18,369 of 18,838 tasks); the rest inherit their work activities' importance. The index is the weighted mean.
Check: across the 910 occupations where O*NET also rates how far machine speed sets the pace, this index moves opposite to it (Spearman ρ = -0.49). The more a job is paced by equipment, the less of its task content AI can address — the relationship you would expect if the scoring is working.
Sources · O*NET 31.0 (task records to 08/2026) · BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS projections 2025-2035 · rubric v2.1 · tasks for O*NET, not a forecast
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