Administrative Assistant Jobs in Chicago, IL

Administrative assistants in the Chicago metro earn a median of $24.25 an hour, and law firms, banks, universities and hospitals from the Loop to Streeterville keep hiring. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what the work pays and how to get started.

Current administrative assistant Openings in Chicago, IL

Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.

Administrative Assistant Work in Chicago

Office and administrative support is the single largest occupational group in the Chicago metro, about one job in nine, so admin work here is spread across every industry rather than tied to one. The heaviest concentration is downtown: law firms, banks, insurers and trading firms in the Loop, River North and the West Loop, where roles often mean supporting a team of attorneys or a finance group in a high-rise and commuting in on the L or Metra. The second big pool is institutional, at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park and the hospital systems of Streeterville and the Illinois Medical District, where department and clinical admin roles come with university or health-system benefits.

Two local rules shape the search. Illinois has required employers with 15 or more workers to list the pay scale and benefits in every job posting since January 1, 2025, so you can compare offers before you apply. And inside city limits, the Chicago minimum wage of $17.05 an hour sets the floor, though almost no full-time admin role downtown pays that little.

Top Chicago Employers Hiring Administrative Assistants

These employers have posted administrative assistant roles in Chicago on their own careers sites:

• Kirkland & Ellis - the global law firm hires administrative and practice support assistants for its Chicago office.
• University of Chicago - posts department administrative assistant roles across its Hyde Park campus and divisions.
• Lurie Children's Hospital - the Streeterville pediatric hospital hires clinical, academic and rehab services administrative assistants.
• Plante Moran - the accounting and advisory firm hires administrative assistants for its Chicago assurance and consulting teams.
• CIBC - the bank's US operation posts administrative assistant roles in Chicago.
• Robert Half - the staffing firm places temporary, temp-to-hire and permanent administrative assistants with Chicago companies.

Administrative Assistant Salaries in Chicago

• Entry level: about $19 to $22 an hour, or roughly $40,000 to $46,000 a year.
• Experienced: about $24 to $30 an hour, or $50,000 to $63,000 a year.
• Senior: about $31 to $38 an hour, or $65,000 to $79,000 a year, most often at law firms and financial companies.

These are estimates built from federal wage data for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro (May 2025) and checked against current Chicago postings, where permanent downtown admin roles are advertising $55,000 to $75,000. Pay moves with the industry (law and finance pay most, nonprofits least), with strong Excel and PowerPoint skills, with supporting senior leaders rather than a whole department, and with a second language. Suburban roles usually pay a little less than the Loop.

How to Become an Administrative Assistant in Chicago

Most employers ask for a high school diploma or GED and solid Microsoft Office skills, and many prefer a year or two of office or customer service experience. Illinois does not license administrative assistants, so there is no state exam or registration to look for. If you want formal training, Oakton College offers an 18-credit Administrative Assistant Certificate at its Des Plaines and Skokie campuses that prepares students for Microsoft Office certification, and Harper College in Palatine offers a 17-credit Administrative Assistant Certificate that follows its Office Assistant Certificate. If legal offices appeal to you, City Colleges of Chicago offers a Paralegal associate degree at Harold Washington College in the Loop and at Wright College. The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership's American Job Centers can also point you to funded training.

What the Job Involves

Administrative assistants keep an office or department running. A typical day includes managing calendars and booking meetings, answering phones and email, preparing documents, spreadsheets and slide decks, processing expense reports and invoices, ordering supplies, organizing files, and coordinating travel and events. In law firms and hospitals the work also involves specialized systems, such as billing software or scheduling platforms, and careful handling of confidential information.

Skills Employers Look For

• Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Calendar and travel management
• Clear, professional writing and phone manner
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Discretion with confidential information
• Juggling competing requests from several people
• Comfort with Teams, Zoom and shared drives

Career Path and Advancement

Many Chicago admins start as a receptionist or office assistant, move into an administrative assistant role supporting a team, and then step up to senior administrative assistant or executive assistant supporting a single leader, where downtown pay can pass $75,000. Others move sideways into office management, HR coordination, project coordination or, in law firms, paralegal work.

Related Careers in Chicago

If administrative work interests you, these related Chicago roles are close matches:

• Executive Assistant Jobs
• Receptionist Jobs
• Customer Service Representative Jobs
• Human Resources Specialist Jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license to be an administrative assistant in Illinois?

No. Illinois does not license or register administrative assistants. Employers look for Microsoft Office skills and experience, and some value a community college certificate or the voluntary Certified Administrative Professional credential, but none of these is required by law.

How much do administrative assistants make in Chicago?

The median in the Chicago metro is $24.25 an hour, or about $50,440 a year, based on May 2025 federal data. The middle half of workers earn roughly $20 to $30 an hour, and the top tenth earn about $38 an hour or more.

Do Chicago job postings have to list the pay?

Yes, for most employers. Since January 1, 2025, the Illinois Equal Pay Act has required employers with 15 or more employees to include the pay scale and benefits in job postings for work done in Illinois. Use those ranges to compare offers before you apply.

Which Chicago employers pay administrative assistants the most?

Large law firms, banks and financial firms in the Loop and River North generally pay the most, especially for assistants who support senior partners or executives. Universities and hospitals often pay a little less in salary but offer strong benefits and tuition help.

How long does it take to train as an administrative assistant?

You can start right away with a diploma and good computer skills. A community college certificate, such as Oakton College's 18-credit Administrative Assistant Certificate, can typically be finished in about a year, and many of the courses are offered online.

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