Administrative professionals are the glue to keeping companies and government offices functioning properly. To show gratitude this Administrative Professionals Week, companies usually treat their administrative workers for lunch, present gifts, or throw an office party.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, about 3.6 million are employed in this profession with a median annual wage of $40,990.
Healthcare and social assistance industries are the largest employers of administrative professionals, followed by educational then professional/technical companies.
Administrative Professionals Week was founded by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles W. Sawyer in 1952 through the International Association of Administrative Professionals (formerly the National Secretaries Association) in 1952.
According to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), IAAP History:
- 1942 — Founding: National Secretaries Association (NSA) was formed and the first chapter was founded in Topeka, Kansas
- 1952 — National Secretaries Week: First National Secretaries Week, now known as Administrative Professionals Week
- 1967 — Men Join NSA: Convention delegates vote to open membership to men; first man joins six weeks later
- 1981 — Name Change #1: NSA changes its name to Professional Secretaries International (PSI)
- 1998 — Name Change #2: PSI becomes the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)
- 2000 — Administrative Professionals Week: Professional Secretaries Week and Day become Administrative Professionals Week and Day
