Executive Assistant Job Profile | Missions, Skills, Salary 2026

30-50K EUR

Annual gross salary

Bac+2 to Bac+5

Required training

Support & Direction

Industry sector

Moderate

Market tension

Introduction to the Executive Assistant profession

The executive assistant is the right hand of company executives. True organisational pillar, they ensure smooth executive calendar management, coordinate internal and external communications, and oversee strategic administrative tasks. This role requires autonomy, discretion and excellent anticipation skills.

Unlike a traditional secretary, the executive assistant has broad autonomy and an extended scope of responsibilities. They are often the first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, and must exercise judgement in all interactions.

Core missions

Executive calendar management

Organise and optimise executive schedules: meeting planning, priority management, arbitration between competing requests. Anticipate needs and prevent calendar conflicts.

Communication coordination

Filter and manage phone calls, emails and letters. Draft correspondence, reports and presentations. Liaise between senior management and teams.

Logistics organisation

Plan professional travel: transport bookings, hotels, event organisation. Manage travel expenses and expense reports.

Meeting preparation and follow-up

Organise executive meetings: convocations, file preparation, logistics management. Draft minutes and ensure follow-up of decisions.

Document and administrative management

Maintain an efficient filing system (physical and digital). Manage confidential files. Provide information monitoring for senior management.

Required skills

Technical Skills vs Soft Skills

Avantages

Perfect mastery of office tools (Office Suite, Google Workspace)
Excellent written and oral communication in English
Professional English mastery (often essential)
Project management and event organisation skills
Knowledge of videoconferencing tools (Teams, Zoom, Google Meet)
Accounting and budget management notions

Inconvénients

Absolute discretion and confidentiality
Excellent organisational skills and priority management
Autonomy and proactivity
Relationship ease and diplomacy
Stress resistance and urgency management
Flexibility and adaptability

Training for executive assistants

Level	Qualification	Career paths
Bac+2	NVQ in PA and Managerial Support	Junior executive assistant
Bac+2	NVQ in SME Management	Polyvalent PA in SME
Bac+3	Diploma in Secretarial and HR Professions	Confirmed executive assistant
Bac+5	Master's in Management, Business Communication	Executive PA, Office Manager

Career progression

0-2 years

Secretary / Administrative Assistant

Learning fundamentals.

2-4 years

Junior Executive Assistant

Support to one or more managers.

4-8 years

Confirmed Executive Assistant

Support to chief executive.

6-10 years

Office Manager

Operational management of an office.

10+ years

Administrative Manager

Management of a support team.

Salary Scale 2026

Executive assistant salary (annual gross)

Experience	SME/Mid-market	Large enterprise	Ile-de-France
Junior (0-3 years)	26-32K EUR	30-36K EUR	+12-18%
Confirmed (3-6 years)	32-40K EUR	36-44K EUR	+12-18%
Senior (6-10 years)	40-48K EUR	44-52K EUR	+15-20%
Expert CEO (10+ years)	48-58K EUR	52-65K EUR	+15-20%

Factors that increase compensation

Fluent English: +10-15% | Bilingualism: +15-20% | Banking/Finance sector: +20-25% | CAC 40: +25-30% | CEO/COO PA: +30-40% compared to department director PA

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Frequently asked questions about executive assistant profession

What is the difference between executive assistant and office manager?

The executive assistant mainly serves one or more executives: their calendar, travel, communications. The office manager manages overall office operation: suppliers, premises, IT, onboarding, office life. The two roles overlap in SMEs where one person combines both functions.

Is English essential to be an executive assistant?

In international companies and foreign groups based in France, fluent English is almost essential. For French SMEs, it may be optional but remains a differentiating asset. TOEIC 750+ level is generally expected for mid and large company executive PA positions.

Can the executive assistant work remotely?

Remote working is possible for some tasks (writing, email management, document preparation), but physical presence is often necessary to welcome visitors, manage on-site urgencies and ensure executive proximity. Most positions allow 1-2 days remote working maximum.

What are the most sought-after qualities for this role?

Recruiters consistently cite: absolute discretion (access to confidential information), anticipating needs (being two steps ahead), versatility (managing multiple files simultaneously), stress resistance and responsiveness. Loyalty to the executive is also a key relationship factor.

How do you progress to a CEO or COO PA position?

Progression is generally through stages: starting by assisting a department director (3-5 years), then evolving to a deputy general manager or subsidiary MD (2-3 years), before reaching the CEO of a large group. Language skills, strategic issue mastery and internal networks are determining factors.