Short answer
This is one of the most exposed jobs, and BLS projects it to shrink. Exposure is not a forecast of job loss on its own, but here the two point the same way.
AI and jobs
Will AI Replace Secretaries and Administrative Assistants? (2026)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics places secretaries and administrative assistants in its very high AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI. BLS projects employment to fall by 6.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 163,900 openings a year.
- BLS AI exposure
- Very highBLS EP supplemental table
- AI-resilience score
- 21/100Higher than 12% of jobs · NueCareer
- Projected change
- -6.0%BLS EP 2025–2035; all jobs 3.5%
- Openings a year
- 163,900BLS EP 2025–2035
The federal measure
How exposed secretaries and administrative assistants are to AI
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes a relative AI exposure category for each occupation it projects, built from five public measures of where AI could be, or already is, used to assist with or complete the work. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants land in the very high category: among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Where this job sits on the BLS scale
786 occupations in the NueCareer bank, in BLS's four relative categories; width shows how many fall in each
- Low203 occupations · 26%
- Moderate194 occupations · 25%
- High190 occupations · 24%
- Very high · this job199 occupations · 25%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, AI exposure categories supplemental table.
- Exposure is relative. The categories rank occupations against each other; they are not a probability that a job is automated.
- BLS says exposure does not imply job loss, productivity gains, automation probability or wage effects. A highly exposed job can still grow if AI makes the people in it more productive.
- The classification reflects AI capabilities as the underlying studies measured them. Read the BLS method and limitations.
Inside the work
What AI can and cannot do in this job
O*NET rates how important each work activity is to an occupation and how often each working condition comes up. The ratings below are the ones that move the job's NueCareer AI-resilience score the most: the ones that pull it up, and the ones that pull it down. Only ratings clearly above the midpoint count.
What holds up
Physical, hands-on and person-to-person work
- Face-to-face discussions4.7/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships3.8/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Dealing with the public4.0/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
What AI reaches first
Routine, repeatable and screen-based work
- Repeating the same tasks4.3/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
- Performing administrative activities4.1/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Working with computers4.4/5O*NET work activity, importance
- Time spent sitting4.6/5O*NET work context, frequency or level
The tasks O*NET lists for secretaries and administrative assistants
- Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.
- Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
- Make copies of correspondence or other printed material.
- Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.
- Conduct searches to find needed information, using such sources as the Internet.
- Complete forms in accordance with company procedures.
O*NET 31.0 Database task statements, most important first.
The jobs
Will there still be jobs?
Exposure says where AI meets the work. The BLS projection says what the labor market is expected to do over 2025–2035. BLS projects -6.0% change in employment over the decade, against 3.5% across all occupations, and about 163,900 openings a year once retirements and career changes are counted. About 1,706,790 people work in the job today, at a median of $47,540 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Options
Related careers less exposed to AI than secretaries and administrative assistants
Careers O*NET lists as related to the work, or in the same field at similar pay, that BLS places in a lower exposure category.
Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $58,470median a year
- Growth
- −5.3%
- Openings / yr
- 7,300
- Education
- No formal credential
- Low
- BLS AI exposure
- 40/100
- resilience
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution for the United States Postal Service (USPS).
Postal Service Mail Carrier
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $60,550median a year
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 19,600
- Education
- No formal credential
- Moderate
- BLS AI exposure
- 50/100
- resilience
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS).
Administrative Services Manager
Management
- Median pay
- $114,130median a year
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 22,000
- Education
- Bachelor's
- Moderate
- BLS AI exposure
- 43/100
- resilience
Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $45,260median a year
- Growth
- −7.6%
- Openings / yr
- 61,300
- Education
- High school
- High
- BLS AI exposure
- 44/100
- resilience
Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory.
Postal Service Clerk
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $62,130median a year
- Growth
- −0.3%
- Openings / yr
- 5,300
- Education
- No formal credential
- High
- BLS AI exposure
- 42/100
- resilience
Perform any combination of tasks in a United States Postal Service (USPS) post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money…
Teller
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $43,030median a year
- Growth
- −13.2%
- Openings / yr
- 26,800
- Education
- High school
- High
- BLS AI exposure
- 37/100
- resilience
Receive and pay out money.
Questions
Will AI Replace Secretaries and Administrative Assistants? FAQ
Will AI replace secretaries and administrative assistants?
This is one of the most exposed jobs, and BLS projects it to shrink. Exposure is not a forecast of job loss on its own, but here the two point the same way. BLS defines exposure as AI being able to assist with or complete some of the work, and says it does not imply job loss, productivity gains or wage effects. BLS projects employment to fall by 6.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 163,900 openings a year.
How exposed are secretaries and administrative assistants to AI?
BLS sorts 786 occupations into four relative categories: low, moderate, high and very high. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants are in the very high category, alongside 198 other occupations. The categories combine five public measures of where AI could be or already is used, and they compare occupations with each other rather than giving an absolute risk.
What parts of a secretary and administrative assistant, except legal, medical, and executive's job can AI do?
In O*NET's description of the work, the parts that overlap most with what AI handles well are repeating the same tasks, performing administrative activities and working with computers. The parts that hold up best are face-to-face discussions, establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships and dealing with the public. These come from O*NET ratings of how important each activity is to the job, read through NueCareer's AI-resilience method.
Is being a secretary and administrative assistant, except legal, medical, and executive a safe career from AI?
On NueCareer's AI-resilience score, built from O*NET work activities, secretaries and administrative assistants score 21 out of 100, higher than 12% of the occupations we score. The job pays a median of $47,540 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No job is fully safe from technological change, but the federal exposure category and the projected openings are the two numbers worth weighing.
What careers similar to secretaries and administrative assistants are less exposed to AI?
Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator (low exposure, $58,470 median), Postal Service Mail Carrier (moderate exposure, $60,550 median), Administrative Services Manager (moderate exposure, $114,130 median), Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk (high exposure, $45,260 median). Each is in a lower BLS exposure category than secretaries and administrative assistants, and most are listed by O*NET as related to the work.
The AI exposure category is the Bureau of Labor Statistics'. The AI-resilience score and the activity breakdown are NueCareer's analysis of O*NET 31.0 Database data (method), not a federal figure. More: jobs most exposed to AI, jobs least exposed to AI, or check any job.