Administrative Assistant Jobs and Salaries in Canada 2020

If you’re someone who enjoys staying organized, working with others and being involved in the day-to-day operations of a business, a career as an administrative assistant might be for you! 

An administrative assistant is an incredibly fulfilling career that can lead you to dozens of different jobs in almost every industry where no two days of work are the same. Read on to learn more about what an admin assistant does, how much they earn across the country, what you’ll learn in our Administrative Office Assistant and Bookkeeper programs and the types of jobs that are available in Canada right now. 

 

What is an administrative assistant? 

If Hollywood has shown us anything, it’s not necessarily the most accurate depiction of an administrative assistant. Assistants in movies and TV shows tend to be overworked and under-appreciated before somehow moving on to become CEO of the company or fall in love with their boss by the ending credits. However, there is one thing Hollywood gets right— the diverse range of tasks, industries, roles and opportunities that exist for administrative assistants.  

Here are a few of our favourite (albeit, incredibly dramatized) Hollywood admin assistants: 

• Pam and Erin in “The Office” 
• Jonathon in “30 Rock”
• Joan and Peggy in “Mad Men” 
• Mr. Smithers in “The Simpsons” 
• April in “Parks and Recreation” 
• Andrew in “The Proposal”
• Lloyd in “Entourage”
• Andy and Emily in “The Devil Wears Prada”  
• Marc in “Ugly Betty”  
• Janine in “Ghostbusters” 

 

Obviously these are all fairly sensationalized roles, but if you’ve seen any of these shows or movies, it should give you an idea of the range of industries admin assistants can work in and the large number of tasks they are sometimes handed.  

In reality, an administrative assistant provides support to business executives, office departments, or small to medium-sized businesses, including large corporations, non-profit groups and government departments. Although the role differs greatly depending on the type of organization, an admin assistant should generally be well versed in standard office procedures, record keeping, keyboarding and computer work, business communications and customer service.  

 

Administrative Office Assistant Diploma Program 

Our Administrative Office Assistant diploma program is offered at our Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg campuses, as well as online. During the 14-week program, you’ll gain basic knowledge of standard office procedures including front line reception responsibilities, office technology, basic principles of sales and marketing, along with strong oral and written business communication skills and typing techniques. 

Additionally, a compulsory 2-week full-time practicum will give you valuable workplace experience and a chance to apply your skills outside of the classroom!  

Graduates will find employment in businesses of all sizes and in a number of roles including:

• Administrative Assistant 

• Administrative Professional 

• Executive Assistant 

• Office Assistant 

• Receptionist 

• Secretary 


 

Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper Diploma Program 

Our Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper diploma program is offered at our Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg campuses, as well as online. Here, we’ll teach you everything from proper typing techniques to an understanding of bookkeeping basics, day-to-day financial transactions, and Microsoft Office applications and Sage computerized accounting software. You’ll also learn to develop professional business communication skills and the foundations of customer service. This course is longer than the Administrative Office Assistant program—24 weeks instead of 14—because it incorporates basic bookkeeping procedures, an introduction to human resources and Sage accounting software training.  

Additionally, a compulsory 4-week full-time practicum will give you valuable workplace experience and a chance to apply your skills in the field!  

As a graduate of this program, you’ll be qualified for a number of related jobs including: 

• Administrative Assistant 

• Office Assistant 

• Receptionist 

• Executive Assistant 

• Bookkeeping Clerk 

• Accounting Clerk 


 

What kinds of administrative assistant jobs are available in Canada? 

As we listed above, there are a number of roles you’re qualified to fill as an administrative assistant graduate. A quick search of the job finding site Indeed reveals close to 5,000 postings across Canada right now. A few interesting postings include: 

 

Chiropractic Office Assistant in Winnipeg, MB

Job responsibilities:  

• Answering phones, emails and posting on social media
• Scheduling patients on prescribed treatment plans
• Maintaining a smooth flow of patients and assisting with patient exams
• Insurance billing and record maintenance
• Office administration duties and light cleaning

 

Experience:

• Office administration: 1 year (preferred) 

 

Administrative Assistant at a roofing company, Vancouver, BC 

Job responsibilities:

• Type and proofread correspondence, forms and other documents

• Schedule and confirm appointments
• Greet people and direct them to contacts or service areas

• Determine and establish office procedures and routines

• Arrange and coordinate seminars, conferences, etc.

• Answer telephone and relay telephone calls and messages

• Compile data, statistics and other information

• Order office supplies and maintain inventory

• Record and prepare minutes of meetings, seminars and conferences


• Open and distribute regular and electronic incoming mail and other material and coordinate the flow of information

 

Administrative Assistant – Elections in Regina, SK

Job responsibilities:

As the Administrative Assistant for the upcoming election, you will continually impress others with your outstanding customer service. You’ve proven your talent at preparing/processing confidential correspondence, creating/maintaining files, generating/distributing reports, maintaining accurate information in appropriate databases and can apply the principles and practices of records/information management.

You are a self-starter. You effectively and efficiently prioritize work and are a stickler for detail and accuracy. You could teach Microsoft about their office products because you know them so well. And, you can organize others, including scheduling training for hundreds of election workers.

 

Experience:

Our successful candidate will have two or more years of related experience, backed with a Grade 12 diploma and an Office Education certificate.

As you can see, these postings vary greatly in tasks, industries, skills and experience required. 

 

Virtual assisting: how you can work remotely

In a society that increasingly relies on technology to successfully conduct business, virtual assistants are becoming more and more in demand.  

A virtual assistant is someone who provides professional administrative services to clients remotely from a home office. Virtual assistants are generally self-employed and often take on multiple clients at a time. 

 

Part-time Medical Office Assistant- Remote, Virtual

Job responsibilities:

• Ability to work remotely from your private home office 

• Set up and review new client files 

• Process prescription refill requests 

• Scan and link all paper documents into patient’s file daily 

• Book consults, lab and diagnostic appointments as well as track referrals 

• Confirm nurse practitioner appointments 


 

Experience:

• You have a high school education and preferably a post-secondary education
• Experience working in a call centre/ client service/ inbound call environment is an asset

• You are tech-savvy and comfortable utilizing technologies (e.g. email, calls, Slack, online medical portals and electronic medical records) 

• You possess strong computer skills including the ability to work in a web-based application oriented environment 

• You are client-oriented and have a passion for providing an exceptional experience for our members
• Must be flexible, service oriented and a problem solver 
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills 

• Attention to detail, ability to prioritize

• Self-motivated and a team player 

• Proficient in using MS Office programs 


 

Administrative Assistant salaries across Canada

We’ve rounded up the average entry-level administrative assistant salary in major cities across Canada (according to PayScale reports): 

• Vancouver, British Columbia: $40,898 
• Edmonton, Alberta: $44,184 
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: $40,752 
• Winnipeg, Manitoba: $41,366 
• Toronto, Ontario: $41,048 
• Montreal, Quebec: $40,559 
• Saint John, New Brunswick: $32,692 
• Halifax, Nova Scotia: $36,771 
• Charlottetown, PEI: $38,460 
• St. John’s, Newfoundland: $39,153 

 

The starting salaries for administrative assistants across Canada are fairly even, but as you gain more work experience, expect your salary to rise as you take on more responsibility or move on to a larger company or organization.

 

*We published two blogs posts on how to write your resume and cover letter when applying for Administrative Assistant jobs. Read through them for tips on what to include and which skills you should highlight.

 

Conclusion 

Well, what do you think? Are you up for a fulfilling, challenging career with a variety of tasks, a diverse range of organizations and industries to work in and a huge number of opportunities all across Canada? 

As always, our team of Student Admissions Advisors is here to help if you have any questions about enrolling for the Administrative Assistant / Bookkeeper, Administrative Office Assistant diploma programs or any other Robertson program. Feel free to contact us at (855) 333-9319 or email [email protected].