Administrative Assistant Jobs in New York, NY
Administrative assistants in New York City earned a median of about $24.73 an hour in 2025, and posted ranges at NYU Langone Health and the MTA now run past $80,000 a year. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays, and how to get in.
Current administrative assistant Openings in New York, NY
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Administrative Assistant Work in New York
New York's admin jobs sit where its big institutions sit. Hospital Row along First Avenue in Kips Bay and the medical campuses on the Upper East Side employ department assistants who support physicians, researchers and hospital leadership. Lower Manhattan is the other anchor: MTA New York City Transit runs its executive offices out of 2 Broadway, and city agencies such as the Department of Transportation at 55 Water Street post clerical and administrative openings through the city's own job board. Private firms in Midtown hire too, but the steadiest flow of openings comes from hospitals and government agencies.
Two things make the market different here. NYC's pay transparency law means most postings show a salary range, so you can compare offers before you apply. And a large share of public-sector admin work runs on civil service titles like Clerical Associate and Secretary, which reward passing a city exam.
Top New York Employers Hiring Administrative Assistants
These employers have posted administrative assistant or clerical openings on their own career sites in recent weeks:
- NYU Langone Health - the academic health system hires administrative assistants for clinical departments, psychiatry and its Office of General Counsel, with posted ranges from about $51,000 to $88,000.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering - the Upper East Side cancer center hires research administrative assistants at $26.77 to $40.05 an hour.
- MTA New York City Transit - the transit agency is hiring an administrative assistant in the Office of the President at 2 Broadway, $63,556 to $80,962.
- NYC Department of Transportation - the city agency posts Clerical Associate roles in Lower Manhattan at $46,503 to $73,002.
- New York City Housing Authority - NYCHA hires Clerical Associates for its Manhattan offices, starting near $46,500.
- NYC Office of the Mayor - City Hall recently posted an administrative assistant role at $75,000.
Administrative Assistant Salaries in New York
- Entry level: about $18 to $22 an hour, or $37,000 to $45,000 a year.
- Experienced: roughly $22 to $29 an hour, or $45,000 to $61,000 a year.
- Senior: $29 to $34 an hour and up, or $61,000 to $70,000 and more, with some hospital and agency ranges reaching $80,000 to $88,000.
These are estimates based on BLS May 2025 wage data for the New York metro and ranges posted by local employers. Pay moves with the employer type, the executive you support, civil service title and years in grade, and specialties like legal or research support. Hospital and public-sector roles usually add strong benefits and pensions, and the NYC minimum wage is $17 an hour in 2026.
How to Become an Administrative Assistant in New York
There is no state license for administrative assistants in New York. Most employers ask for a high school diploma or equivalent plus solid Microsoft Office skills, and hospital roles often prefer an associate degree and a few years of office experience. LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City offers a Certified Administrative Professional course through Continuing Education, and Bronx Community College runs an Office Administration and Technology associate degree. For city jobs, the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services tests for Clerical Associate and Secretary through its Bridge Exam, and you are hired from the resulting civil service lists.
What the Job Involves
Administrative assistants keep a department or executive running. Daily tasks include managing calendars, scheduling meetings, answering phones and email, preparing documents and spreadsheets, processing invoices and expense reports, ordering supplies, and keeping files and records in order. In a hospital or university the work often includes coordinating faculty schedules, tracking grants or credentialing paperwork, and handling confidential information.
Skills Employers Look For
- Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
- Calendar and travel management
- Clear written and phone communication
- Attention to detail and accurate data entry
- Discretion with confidential information
- Ability to juggle several people's priorities
- Bilingual skills, especially Spanish or Chinese, in patient-facing offices
Career Path and Advancement
Many New Yorkers start as receptionists or office assistants and move into administrative assistant roles within a year or two. From there the ladder runs to senior administrative assistant, executive assistant to a department chair or agency head, and office or practice manager. In city government, the path runs from Clerical Associate up through Secretary and Administrative Associate titles, with promotion exams along the way.
Related Careers in New York
If administrative work interests you, these related New York roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be an administrative assistant in New York?
No. New York does not license administrative assistants. Employers look for a high school diploma or equivalent, office software skills and experience, and optional certifications can help you stand out.
How much do administrative assistants make in New York City?
The metro median was about $24.73 an hour, or $51,440 a year, in BLS May 2025 data. Entry roles start near $18 to $22 an hour, and senior roles at hospitals and public agencies post ranges above $80,000.
How do I get an administrative job with the City of New York?
Most city clerical jobs use civil service titles such as Clerical Associate and Secretary. DCAS tests for these through its Bridge Exam, and agencies hire from the eligible lists, so watch the DCAS exam schedule and the city job board for openings.
Are administrative assistant jobs in New York remote?
Most are on site or hybrid. Hospital, agency and front-office roles usually need you in the office most days, while some corporate roles allow two or three remote days a week.
What experience do I need for an entry-level admin job in New York?
Many entry roles want a year or two of office, reception or customer service experience plus strong Word, Excel and Outlook skills. A short course such as LaGuardia's Certified Administrative Professional program can help if you are new to office work.
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