Career comparison
Administrative Assistant vs. Typist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Typists earn more at the median ($49,280 vs. $47,540), while typists usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Administrative assistants keep offices organized: calendars, communication, documents and logistics. Typists type and format documents, letters and reports.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Administrative Assistant | Typist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,540 ($22.86/hr) | $49,280 ($23.69/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $33,280 – $66,350 | $36,810 – $65,150 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -6.0% (a projected decline) | -34.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 163,900 | 1,900 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Weeks to months | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | CAP (IAAP) | Microsoft Office Specialist |
| Work setting | Administrative assistants work in offices across every industry: schools, hospitals, law firms, government, construction companies and corporations. | Typists work in offices and sometimes remotely.. |
What each job does
Administrative Assistant
- Manage calendars and schedule meetings
- Answer phones, emails and visitors professionally
- Prepare documents, presentations and spreadsheets
- Organize physical and digital files and records
- Coordinate travel, events and meeting logistics
Typist
- Type documents
- Format reports
- Proofread
- Transcribe recordings
- Manage templates
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, steady routines, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose administrative assistant if…
- I’m highly organized and detail-oriented
- I like helping a team run smoothly
- I’m comfortable with computers and software
Choose typist if…
- I type fast
- I spot typos
- I like formatting
Still torn? Take the Administrative Assistant fit quiz and the Typist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, administrative assistant or typist?
Typists earn more at the median: $49,280 versus $47,540 for administrative assistants, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Typists typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than administrative assistants (Weeks to months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects administrative assistants to grow -6.0% from 2025–35, compared with -34.4% for typists.