Administrative Assistant labor category
Administrative Assistant is a government contracting labor category with levels I through IV. GSA ceiling rates run about $49–$97/hr depending on level. That's what the government pays the contractor, not your salary.
Updated Oct 21, 2026 · Data: GSA CALC+
What a Administrative Assistant does
In government contracts, these roles are structured by levels based on experience and education. A Level I position typically requires a high school diploma and focuses on routine tasks like filing and data entry. As you progress to Level II and III, the expectation shifts toward independent project support, complex scheduling for senior leadership, and maintaining compliance with government record keeping standards. A Level IV role often involves overseeing administrative workflows for large departments. For transitioning service members, this role mirrors the responsibilities of administrative noncommissioned officers or office managers. Your military background in tracking personnel, managing schedules, and maintaining organizational readiness provides a direct foundation for success in these contractor roles.
Typical Administrative Assistant duties
- Coordinate complex calendars and travel arrangements for senior staff to ensure adherence to government policies.
- Draft, edit, and proofread official reports, correspondence, and briefing materials for government stakeholders.
- Manage office supplies, equipment maintenance, and facility access logs for contract work sites.
- Maintain organized digital and physical filing systems in compliance with government data privacy requirements.
- Facilitate communication between internal project teams and external agency points of contact.
Administrative Assistant levels, requirements, and GSA CALC+ rates
Levels map to years of relevant experience. A degree can substitute for years (about 2 years per step).
| Level | Experience | Most common education | GSA ceiling rate, 25th–75th ($/hr) | GSA ceiling rate, median ($/hr) | Rough salary estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 0–3 yrs | High School | $49/hr – $71/hr | $58/hr | $50k–$67k |
| Level II | 4–7 yrs | High School | $57/hr – $84/hr | $70/hr | $61k–$81k |
| Level III | 8–12 yrs | High School | $62/hr – $87/hr | $71/hr | $61k–$81k |
| Level IV | 13+ yrs | High School | $75/hr – $97/hr | $86/hr | $75k–$100k |
- Most common education
- High School
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $49/hr – $71/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $58/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $50k–$67k
- Most common education
- High School
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $57/hr – $84/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $70/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $61k–$81k
- Most common education
- High School
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $62/hr – $87/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $71/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $61k–$81k
- Most common education
- High School
- GSA ceiling, 25th–75th
- $75/hr – $97/hr
- GSA ceiling, median
- $86/hr
- Rough salary estimate
- $75k–$100k
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 1,913 rates.
Common certifications: Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Certified Professional Property Specialist (CPPS), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Professional Logistician, Certified Supply Chain Professional, ITIL Foundation
Clearance for this labor category
About 5% of Administrative Assistant GSA rates require a clearance. Put your clearance on the very first line of your resume, under your name and contact info. Level and status only. Never list program names, SCI caveats, or classified details. Use the free Clearance Formatter.
Military codes that map to Administrative Assistant
Sample Administrative Assistant resume bullets
Public-safe, quantified examples. Replace the numbers with your own.
- Managed executive scheduling and travel logistics for a team of 15 senior staff members, reducing scheduling conflicts by 40 percent.
- Oversaw the documentation process for a $2M contract, ensuring 100 percent compliance with agency record keeping standards over a two year period.
- Streamlined office supply procurement and tracking for a department of 500+ users, resulting in an annual cost savings of $15,000.
What level Administrative Assistant are you?
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level, the GSA rate range for that level, and what would move you up.
With 0 years of relevant experience and a no degree, your effective experience is about 0 years. Under the common GSA CALC+ rule that a degree step substitutes for roughly 2 years, that maps to Level I. Verify against the specific contract.
Move up · To reach Level II, add about 4 more years of relevant experience, or earn a certification the contract requires (e.g. Security+, PMP) that the contract requires.
GSA ceiling rate: what the government pays the contractor, not your salary. It includes overhead, benefits, and profit. Source: GSA CALC+, current contract year, synced Oct 25, 2026, 1,232 rates.
No account needed. Opens the free translator prefilled with Administrative Assistant. Share link encodes only your selections, no names.
Administrative Assistant labor category: quick answers
Do I need a security clearance to be an Administrative Assistant in contracting?
Only about 5 percent of these roles require a clearance. Most administrative positions are unclassified and do not require a secret or top secret designation.
How does my military experience translate to the different levels?
Junior administrative experience in the military maps well to Level I or II roles. If you managed an office or a section as a supervisor, you are likely qualified for Level III or IV positions.
Is a college degree required for higher level roles?
While some contracts prefer a bachelor degree, many employers prioritize relevant experience. Your military service is often treated as equivalent to civilian experience.
What is the pay range for these positions?
Pay varies by level and location, with median hourly rates ranging from approximately $58 for entry level positions to over $86 for advanced, senior level administrative roles.
Reviewed by the Good to Go team · Last updated 2026-10-21 · Sources: GSA CALC+, O*NET
More about this roleShow
In government contracts, these roles are structured by levels based on experience and education. A Level I position typically requires a high school diploma and focuses on routine tasks like filing and data entry. As you progress to Level II and III, the expectation shifts toward independent project support, complex scheduling for senior leadership, and maintaining compliance with government record keeping standards. A Level IV role often involves overseeing administrative workflows for large departments. For transitioning service members, this role mirrors the responsibilities of administrative noncommissioned officers or office managers. Your military background in tracking personnel, managing schedules, and maintaining organizational readiness provides a direct foundation for success in these contractor roles.
Each contract defines its own labor categories and levels, so confirm the fit against the posting. Pay figures here are estimates from GSA CALC+ ceiling rates, not a guarantee.
Find your Administrative Assistant level
Enter your years, education, certifications, and clearance. Get your likely level and the GSA rate range for it.
Open the Level Calculator- 1165 Inventory Management Specialist
- AZ Aviation Maintenance Administrationman
- 25V Combat Documentation Production Specialist
- 56M Chaplain Assistant
- 89A Ammunition Stock Control and Accounting Specialist
- 3F1X1 Personnel
- 3F0X1 Administration
- 3D0X1 Knowledge Operations Management
- 0111 Administrative Specialist
- 0411 Maintenance Management Specialist
- 46Q Public Affairs Mass Communication Specialist
- 92G Food Service Specialist
- 0391 Telecommunications
- 0301 Miscellaneous Administration and Program
- 2S0X1 Materiel Management Specialist
- 92Y Unit Supply Specialist
- 42A Human Resources Specialist
- 92A Automated Logistical Specialist
- 36B Financial Management Technician
- YN Yeoman
- LS Logistics Specialist
- PS Personnel Specialist