Executive Assistant

What is an executive assistant?

An executive assistant (EA) is responsible for providing daily support to senior business leaders. They manage daily planning and organisational tasks, so high-level executives are free to maximise their working hours.

The working relationship that EAs share with their direct report is heavily trust-based, and they will be relied upon to manage multiple complex tasks and to safeguard sensitive information.

Executive assistant job description and responsibilities

EA duties involve a variety of complex tasks designed to support top level executives in their daily working life.

Executive assistants are trusted with calendar planning, inbox management and event organisation. The EA job description also includes organising files, producing reports and presentations. Because they are expected to handle an array of tasks at once, EAs should be highly skilled at multitasking.

Their duties and responsibilities are:

Screening calls and taking messages

Calendar/inbox management

Reporting

Liaising with management and external clients

Arranging travel, meetings and events

Coordinating projects

Filing and document organisation

Executive assistant qualifications, skills and experience

Executive assistants don’t necessarily need a degree to gain employment, but employers will look for previous experience that is similar, such as a personal assistant role.

Many of the skills needed to reach success in the role of EA are soft skills and interpersonal abilities. This should include some of the following:

Excellent organisational skills

The ability to work with discretion

Adaptability

Good time management

Administrative skills

Ability to multitask

Attention to detail

Looking for an executive assistant or an executive assistant job?

Submit your CV or request talent now and our expert recruiters will be with you shortly.

Robert Half can assist you with your executive assistant staffing needs.

Salary for Executive Assistant

38500 - 64500

25th percentile

38500

The candidate has little or no prior experience in the position and is still developing relevant skills.

50th percentile

50250

The candidate has an average level of experience and has most of the necessary skills.

75th percentile

64500

The candidate has above-average experience, has most or all the necessary skills, and may have specialised qualifications.

Projected salaries for related positions

Position title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

Head of Operations

58750

66250

73500

Business Operations

40500

51500

62500

Investor Relations

44250

58750

70000

Office Manager

35000

44000

55000

Explore more salaries

Latest Executive Assistant jobs

Search all jobs

Accounts Assistant

Treasury Assistant

Accounts Assistant

Underwriting Assistant

Financial Controller

Hiring? Start here.

Access millions of skilled contract and permanent candidates at every level from support roles to C-Suite, and pinpoint the talent you need using our industry-leading matching technology.

Find your next hire

Your guide to negotiating salaries and offers

2026 UK Salary Guide Explore UK salaries, in-demand roles and compensation strategies to confidently benchmark for new hires or prepare for salary discussions.

Expert advice: How to answer the question ‘What are your salary expectations?’ Our recruitment experts give tips on how to answer the question ‘What are your salary expectations?’ during an interview, with examples. Find out more…

How to negotiate a pay rise with your employer: 6 practical tips from recruitment experts Want to know how to ask for a salary increase? Our expert recruiters share new salary data alongside 6 practical tips for negotiating a pay rise this year.

Disappointed with your salary review meeting? Here's what to do next... Has your recent salary review meeting left you feeling deflated? Our recruitment experts share advice on how to turn things around.

How to negotiate a higher salary Learn what steps you can take to secure a more lucrative wage offer when starting a new job.

Should I accept a counteroffer from my current employer? Have you received a counteroffer from your current employer after tendering your resignation? Our recruiters guide you through the tactics behind counteroffers, how to evaluate them and next steps.

How to ask for a sign on bonus: top tips for getting the ‘golden hello’ What is a sign on bonus, and how can you negotiate one? Our experts cover the basics and share 7 tips that’ll help you know how to ask for a sign on bonus.

When should you start discussing salary in an interview? Find out when and if you should ask about salary during an interview.

Listen up, Employers! Maximise your counter-offers to retain talent The pressure is on for businesses to retain their top talent - so what can you do if one of your most valued employees decides to leave?

Performance and salary review: how they differ and how to prepare for success Uncover the difference between a performance and salary review and discover how to increase your chances of success with smart preparation. Read more.

Should you accept a counter-offer? Received a counter-offer after resigning? Discover the pros and cons of accepting a counter-offer and how to make the right decision for your long-term career goals.

Our starting salary projections come from a detailed, multistep process that ensures our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They’re based on real compensation data for job seekers our recruiters have matched with companies across the country, in addition to 350,000 third-party vacancies data from Textkernel for independent validation.

The Salary Guide From Robert Half is the original. We’ve been publishing salary forecasts since 1950, and our guide has served as a trusted source for employers, job seekers, industry associations, government and educational institutions, and national and local media.