Hiring Package — Ready to Deploy

Administrative Assistant
/ Secretary

Complete hiring package with job post, internal job description, LA market research, salary benchmarks, and strategic notes. Copy-paste ready.

Los Angeles, CA
$22 – $28/hr ($46K – $58K/yr)
Full-Time
1–3 Yrs Experience

Los Angeles Salary & Market Data

Benchmarked against Bureau of Labor Statistics data and real-time LA talent market intelligence to ensure the posting attracts quality candidates without overpaying.

National Median
$46,010
BLS — Secretaries & Admin Assistants
LA Metro Range
$50K – $60K
Cost-of-living adjusted
Recommended Hourly
$22 – $28
Competitive for quality candidates
LA Talent Pool
20,000+
EA/Admin/Secretary titles in market

Salary Context

TierHourly RateAnnual EquivalentCandidate Profile
Below Market$15 – $18/hr$31K – $37KAttracts desperate applicants, high turnover, low reliability
Entry Level$19 – $21/hr$39K – $44KRecent grads, limited experience, needs heavy training
Sweet Spot$22 – $28/hr$46K – $58K1-3 years experience, self-sufficient, professional, reliable
Senior / Executive$29 – $38/hr$60K – $79KExecutive assistants, office managers, project coordinators
Key Finding: The #1 reason good secretary candidates skip job listings is unrealistic expectations — postings that combine 3-4 different roles (receptionist + bookkeeper + marketing coordinator + office manager) at a single salary. Transparent pay + clear scope = quality applicants.

The Job Post

Copy-paste ready for Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, or any job board. Written to attract quality candidates by being honest about what the job actually is.

Title & Basics

Job Title: Administrative Assistant / Secretary

Location: Los Angeles, CA (In-Office or Hybrid)

Pay: $22 – $28/hour ($45,760 – $58,240/year) depending on experience

Type: Full-Time

The Short Version

We need someone who keeps the office running smoothly. You're the person who makes sure nothing falls through the cracks — schedules stay organized, calls get answered, documents get where they need to go, and the team has what they need to focus on their work.

This is NOT a "wear 17 hats" role. You won't be doing our bookkeeping, running our social media, fixing the WiFi, AND managing a sales pipeline. You'll be doing one job — and doing it well.

What You'll Actually Do Every Day

What We're Looking For

Must-Haves

  • 1–3 years in an admin, secretary, or receptionist role
  • Strong written and verbal communication
  • Google Workspace OR Microsoft Office proficiency
  • Reliable, punctual, self-motivated
  • Can juggle multiple tasks and prioritize
  • Professional phone manner

Nice-to-Haves (Truly Optional)

  • Scheduling tools (Notion, Asana, Calendly)
  • CRM experience (HubSpot, GoHighLevel)
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish)
  • Associate's degree or higher (not required)

What This Role is NOT

We want to be upfront. This role is NOT: an office manager position (you won't manage a team), a bookkeeper (no QuickBooks or invoicing), a marketing coordinator (no social media or ad campaigns), an IT help desk (no server troubleshooting), or a personal assistant (no personal errands or dry cleaning runs).

What You Get

How to Apply

Send your resume and a brief note (2-3 sentences) telling us why you're interested. No cover letter novel required. We'll review applications within 5 business days and reach out if there's a fit.

Full Job Description (HR File)

The complete internal job description with reporting structure, essential duties, time allocations, qualifications, and core competencies.

Position Summary: The Administrative Assistant provides daily organizational and clerical support to ensure smooth office operations. This role is the operational backbone of the office — managing schedules, communications, document preparation, and visitor coordination.

Time Allocation

Calendar & Scheduling (25%)
Communication (20%)
Documents (20%)
Office Coord. (15%)
Meetings (10%)
Travel (5%)
Ad Hoc (5%)

Essential Duties Breakdown

CategorySpecific DutiesTime
Calendar Manage executive and team calendars, schedule internal/external meetings, send confirmations and reminders, resolve scheduling conflicts 25%
Communication Answer/screen/route phone calls, manage general inbox, draft professional correspondence, relay messages accurately 20%
Documents Create, format, and proofread documents, letters, reports, and presentations. Maintain organized digital filing system 20%
Office Greet visitors, manage mail and packages, order supplies, maintain common areas, coordinate vendor visits 15%
Meetings Prepare agendas, take and distribute notes/minutes, track action items, set up meeting rooms (physical or virtual) 10%
Travel Book flights, hotels, car rentals, and prepare travel itineraries when needed 5%
Ad Hoc Special projects, research tasks, or event coordination as assigned 5%

Minimum Qualifications

Core Competencies

Organization
Maintains systematic filing, scheduling, and task tracking without prompting
Communication
Writes clear emails, speaks professionally, relays information accurately
Reliability
Shows up on time, meets deadlines, follows through on commitments
Discretion
Handles confidential information (client data, HR matters) appropriately
Adaptability
Adjusts priorities when urgent matters arise without losing track of ongoing tasks
Initiative
Identifies and addresses small problems before they become big ones

What This Role is NOT

Explicit scope boundaries to prevent the most common hiring mistake — combining 3+ roles into one listing. This section protects both the company and the employee.

Not In ScopeWhy It's a Separate Role
Bookkeeping, invoicing, AP/ARRequires accounting skills and certifications. Errors create legal/tax liability. This is a bookkeeper or accountant role.
Social media managementRequires marketing strategy, content creation, analytics. This is a marketing coordinator role.
IT troubleshootingRequires technical knowledge (networking, software, hardware). This is IT support.
Graphic design / content creationRequires creative skills and software proficiency (Photoshop, Canva, video editing). This is a designer role.
Sales calls or client acquisitionRequires sales training, quota management, CRM pipeline work. This is a sales role.
Personal errands for executivesNot appropriate for a professional administrative role. Leads to resentment and turnover.
Managing other employeesThis is an individual contributor role. People management is an office manager or operations lead function.
Why This Matters: Job posts that combine secretary + bookkeeper + social media + IT support at a single $20/hr salary get applications from people who can do none of those things well. Specialized roles attract specialized talent. The result is higher quality work, lower turnover, and less training cost.

How Success is Measured

Clear, objective performance metrics so both the employee and manager know exactly what "good" looks like. No ambiguity.

Response Time
< 2 Hours
Phone calls and emails acknowledged during business hours
Calendar Accuracy
Zero
Double-bookings or missed meetings per month
Document Quality
Proofread
All documents reviewed before sending — minimal errors
Supply Management
Never Out
Office never runs out of essential supplies
Attendance
< 2/Quarter
Unplanned absences per quarter
Team Feedback
Positive
Consistent positive feedback on support quality

Why This Post Works

Strategic reasoning behind every decision in this hiring package. Share with stakeholders or use for internal alignment.

6 Key Differentiators

1. Honest pay range upfront — LA market for this role is $22-28/hr. Lowballing ($15-18/hr) attracts desperate applicants, not great ones. Transparency filters for quality from the first impression.
2. "What this role is NOT" section — The secret weapon. Most admin postings pile on 15+ responsibilities spanning 3-4 jobs. By explicitly stating what you won't ask, you signal respect for the role — which attracts self-respecting professionals.
3. Time allocation percentages — Candidates see this is a well-thought-out position, not a dump bucket for whatever nobody else wants to do. Shows organizational maturity.
4. Realistic qualifications — No "must have a Bachelor's degree and 5+ years experience" for a $25/hr position. That mismatch is the #1 reason good candidates skip listings.
5. No corporate fluff — No "fast-paced, dynamic, synergistic environment" nonsense. Candidates see through that language and it signals disorganization or unrealistic expectations.
6. Clear performance metrics — The candidate knows exactly how they'll be evaluated before day one. No ambiguity equals less anxiety equals better performance and lower turnover.

Where to Post

PlatformBest ForCostPriority
IndeedLargest volume, best for admin rolesFree tier available, sponsored $5-15/dayHigh
LinkedInProfessional candidates, higher qualityFree single post, paid $150-300/listingHigh
ZipRecruiterAuto-matching, LA market strong$16-24/dayMedium
Craigslist LALocal candidates, fast responses$10-75 per postMedium
Google JobsAuto-indexed from Indeed/LinkedInFree (aggregated)Auto

Indeed / LinkedIn Post — Ready to Publish

Select all, copy, and paste directly into the job board. No formatting needed.

Administrative Assistant / Secretary
Location: Los Angeles, CA (In-Office)
Pay: $22 - $28/hour ($45,760 - $58,240/year)
Type: Full-Time

THE SHORT VERSION

We need someone who keeps the office running smoothly. You're the person who makes sure nothing falls through the cracks - schedules stay organized, calls get answered, documents get where they need to go, and the team has what they need to focus on their work.

This is NOT a "wear 17 hats" role. You won't be doing our bookkeeping, running our social media, fixing the WiFi, AND managing a sales pipeline. You'll be doing one job - and doing it well.

WHAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY DO EVERY DAY

- Manage the daily calendar - schedule meetings, confirm appointments, send reminders
- Answer and route phone calls professionally (no cold calling, no sales)
- Handle incoming and outgoing emails that don't require executive-level decisions
- Organize and maintain digital files, documents, and records
- Prepare basic documents, letters, memos, and reports
- Greet visitors and clients - be the friendly, professional first impression
- Order office supplies before we run out of coffee and printer paper
- Coordinate travel arrangements when needed
- Take notes during meetings and distribute action items
- Handle incoming mail and packages
- Keep common areas organized and presentable

MUST-HAVES

- 1-3 years in an admin, secretary, or receptionist role
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Google Workspace OR Microsoft Office proficiency
- Reliable, punctual, and self-motivated
- Can juggle multiple tasks and prioritize
- Professional phone manner

NICE-TO-HAVES (GENUINELY OPTIONAL)

- Scheduling/project management tools (Notion, Asana, Calendly)
- CRM experience (HubSpot, GoHighLevel)
- Bilingual (English/Spanish)
- Associate's degree or higher

WHAT THIS ROLE IS NOT

We want to be upfront. This role is NOT:
- An office manager position (you won't manage a team)
- A bookkeeper (no QuickBooks, no invoicing)
- A marketing coordinator (no social media, no ad campaigns)
- An IT help desk (no server troubleshooting)
- A personal assistant (no personal errands)

WHAT YOU GET

- $22 - $28/hour depending on experience
- Paid time off
- Health insurance (if applicable)
- Growth opportunity - people who perform well get more responsibility and more pay
- A team that respects your time
- Clear expectations - you'll always know what success looks like

HOW TO APPLY

Send your resume and a brief note (2-3 sentences) telling us why you're interested. No cover letter novel required. We'll review applications within 5 business days.