Executive Assistant Jobs in Philadelphia, PA
Executive assistants in Philadelphia support deans, hospital chiefs and corporate leaders from University City to the Market Street towers, and state wage data puts the metro average above $81,000 a year. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what the job pays, and how to move up into it.
Current executive assistant Openings in Philadelphia, PA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Executive Assistant Work in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's executive assistant market follows its biggest employers. The University of Pennsylvania, Drexel and CHOP fill University City with deans, department chairs and research directors who each need someone running their calendar, travel and correspondence. Jefferson's academic medical center in Center City staffs its clinical chiefs the same way, with executive assistants posted for departments such as Radiology and Transplant Surgery. On the corporate side, Aramark's headquarters at 2400 Market Street and the law firms and insurers along Market Street and JFK Boulevard hire assistants for senior leaders.
What sets the job apart here is the academic and hospital mix. Supporting a department chair at a teaching hospital means juggling clinic schedules, faculty meetings, grant deadlines and board materials at once, and those employers value assistants who already know their systems and culture.
Top Philadelphia Employers Hiring Executive Assistants
These employers have posted executive assistant roles in Philadelphia on their own career sites:
- Jefferson Health - the Center City academic health system hires executive assistants for clinical departments such as Radiology and Transplant Surgery.
- University of Pennsylvania - Penn posts executive assistant roles for its schools, centers and institutes through Careers@Penn.
- Drexel University - the University City school hires executive assistants to support its senior administrators.
- Aramark - the food and facilities company, headquartered on Market Street, recruits regional executive assistants in Philadelphia.
- Robert Half - the staffing firm places permanent and temporary executive assistants with Philadelphia companies and firms.
Executive Assistant Salaries in Philadelphia
- Entry level: about $26 to $31 an hour ($54,000 to $64,000 a year), often in temporary or first executive support roles.
- Experienced: roughly $65,000 to $90,000 a year.
- Senior and C-suite support: $90,000 to $100,000 or more.
These are estimates drawn from Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry wage data for the Philadelphia Metropolitan Division, where executive assistants average about $81,220, and from pay posted by local staffing firms. The level of the executive you support matters most, followed by employer type: corporate and legal roles in Center City tend to pay more in cash, while universities and hospitals add tuition benefits.
How to Become an Executive Assistant in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania does not license executive assistants, so there is no state credential to earn. Most Philadelphia employers want three to five years as an administrative assistant and strong Microsoft Office skills, and many prefer a bachelor's degree. Community College of Philadelphia's Business programs at its Spring Garden Street main campus are a common starting point, and the voluntary Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) credential can help an experienced assistant stand out. The usual route in is a promotion from a department or administrative assistant job.
What the Job Involves
Executive assistants manage one senior leader's time and information. Daily tasks include running a complex calendar, booking travel, drafting and screening correspondence, preparing board and meeting materials, tracking budgets and expenses, and acting as the leader's point of contact with staff, clients and partners. Discretion is constant, since the job sees confidential personnel and financial information.
Skills Employers Look For
- Advanced Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Complex calendar management across time zones
- Polished writing and editing
- Board, committee and event coordination
- Judgment and discretion with confidential information
- Experience with Workday, Concur or similar systems
Career Path and Advancement
In Philadelphia the ladder usually starts with an administrative assistant job in a university or hospital department, moves to executive assistant for a chair, dean or vice president, and then to a senior executive assistant supporting a president or CEO. Some assistants move sideways into chief of staff, office manager or project coordinator roles.
Related Careers in Philadelphia
If executive support interests you, these related Philadelphia roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do executive assistants make in Philadelphia?
State wage data for the Philadelphia Metropolitan Division puts the average near $81,000 a year. Newer executive assistants and temps start around $26 to $31 an hour, experienced assistants earn about $65,000 to $90,000, and assistants to top executives can pass $100,000.
Do you need a degree to be an executive assistant in Philadelphia?
Not always. Many postings prefer a bachelor's degree, but several years of strong administrative experience often counts in its place, especially for assistants promoted from within.
Is there a license or certification for executive assistants in Pennsylvania?
There is no Pennsylvania license. The Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) is a voluntary national credential that some employers like to see, but it is rarely required.
Where are most executive assistant jobs in Philadelphia?
Most are in University City, home to Penn, Drexel and CHOP, and in Center City, where Jefferson, Aramark and the big law firms and insurers sit along Market Street. Both are on the SEPTA L and close to Regional Rail.
Are executive assistant jobs in Philadelphia hybrid?
Some are. Executives are usually in the office several days a week and want their assistant there too, so fully remote roles are uncommon, but many corporate and university jobs allow some days at home.
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