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Secretary Jobs in Waterloo, IA (NOW HIRING)

Health Unit Coordinator

Waterloo, IA · On-site

$16 - $21.75/hr

Medical Secretary, Medical Administrative Secretary, or Medical Assistant degree preferred. * High language, intermediate math, intermediate reasoning ability. * Typing with knowledge of medical ...

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Secretary information

See Waterloo, IA salary details

$24.2K

$45.3K

$62.1K

How much do secretary jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for secretary in Waterloo, IA is $45,304.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37,000.00 and $51,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a secretary do?

A Secretary is often the first individual people come in contact with at a company, giving them the unofficial title as the “face of the organization.” They perform a wide range of tasks to assist the organization or company throughout the day. These tasks can include maintaining files, scheduling appointments or meetings, sending emails, recording meeting minutes, arranging guest travel arrangements, and answering phones. Secretaries frequently use computer software to create spreadsheets, manage databases, and produce documents, reports, and presentations. Some also gather data from a variety of sources, manage corporate libraries or manage stockrooms, buy supplies, and negotiate with vendors.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a secretary, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Secretary, you need strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in office administration, usually supported by a high school diploma or associate degree. Familiarity with office software such as Microsoft Office Suite, scheduling tools, and basic bookkeeping systems is typically required. Excellent communication, discretion, and multitasking abilities help a Secretary excel in managing multiple responsibilities and interacting with diverse stakeholders. These skills ensure smooth office operations, efficient information flow, and professional support for teams and executives.

How does a secretary typically manage competing priorities and urgent requests throughout the workday?

Secretaries often handle multiple tasks simultaneously, such as scheduling meetings, answering correspondence, and supporting various team members. Managing competing priorities requires strong organizational skills, the ability to assess the urgency of requests, and clear communication with supervisors and colleagues. Many secretaries use digital tools like calendars and task management software to stay on top of deadlines and ensure nothing is overlooked. Proactively clarifying expectations and regularly updating supervisors about progress can help manage workload effectively.

What is the difference between Secretary vs Administrative Assistant?

AspectSecretaryAdministrative Assistant
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require certificationHigh school diploma; some roles may prefer additional certifications or training
Work EnvironmentOffice settings, often in legal, medical, or corporate environmentsVaries from office to administrative support across industries
Job ResponsibilitiesManaging schedules, answering phones, filing, and correspondenceSupporting office operations, coordinating meetings, handling reports
Usage & Search IntentOften searched for in legal, medical, or corporate contextsBroader, includes general office support roles

While both roles involve administrative support, secretaries typically focus on managing schedules and correspondence within specific industries like legal or medical. Administrative assistants often have broader responsibilities supporting overall office functions across various industries.

Do secretaries get paid a lot?

Secretaries typically earn a median annual salary that varies by location and experience, with many earning around $35,000 to $50,000. Salaries can increase with skills in office management, proficiency in software like Microsoft Office, and additional certifications. Overall, secretaries' pay is generally considered moderate compared to other administrative roles.

What cities near Waterloo, IA are hiring for Secretary jobs?

Cities near Waterloo, IA with the most Secretary job openings:

Infographic showing various Secretary job openings in Waterloo, IA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 25% As Needed, 25% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $45,304 per year, or $21.8 per hour.

$55K/yr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago


U.S. Department Of The Treasury rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

312th of 856 rated public administrative organizations


Job description

WHAT IS LARGE BUSINESS & INTERNATIONAL?
A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions
  • Position(s) are to be filled in following area(s):
    • LB&I, Large Business & International -positions available in PTE, WCPA, ECPA, TTPO or WEIIC
  • Remain in POD - The vacancy will be filled at the selectee's official permanent position of record, post-of-duty (POD).
REVIEW THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILSQualifications:

Federal experience is not required. Experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or through Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-08: To be eligible for this position, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience includes:

  • Experience screening telephone calls, visitors, and administrative inquiries; coordinating conferences and meetings; and preparing meeting records or minutes.
  • Experience reviewing correspondence, reports, and administrative documents for format, grammar, punctuation, mathematical accuracy, and completeness prior to routing or signature.
  • Experience preparing routine and complex non-technical correspondence and assembling supporting documentation for administrative actions and reports.
  • Experience processing administrative actions involving personnel actions, procurement requests, financial reconciliation activities, office supply requests, training requests, and related office operations.
  • Experience retrieving, compiling, updating, and generating administrative data, reports, correspondence, and tracking information using word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database applications.
  • Experience coordinating administrative records, correspondence files, and office documentation to support daily office operations.
  • Experience maintaining administrative schedules, office records, and supporting documentation required for organizational operations.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE GS-09: To be eligible for this position, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-08 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience includes:
  • Experience obtaining and evaluating background information to determine the appropriate disposition of telephone calls, visitors, correspondence, and administrative inquiries.
  • Experience coordinating meetings, conferences, executive calendars, agendas, meeting materials, and administrative actions requiring follow-up.
  • Experience reviewing correspondence, action documents, and administrative packages for format, grammar, procedural compliance, and completeness prior to management review.
  • Experience serving as an administrative liaison by coordinating the exchange of program information, administrative actions, and organizational communications among management officials and organizational components.
  • Experience conducting administrative support activities involving budget data collection, expenditure tracking, procurement requests, personnel action requests, and related administrative operations.
  • Experience monitoring administrative actions, correspondence suspense items, and required follow-up activities to ensure timely completion of assigned actions.
  • Experience conducting administrative training sessions and providing guidance on established office procedures and administrative processes.

AND
TYPING PROFICIENCY: Applicants must be qualified typists with a minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute (based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors). Applicants may meet these requirements by passing the appropriate performance test, presenting a certificate of proficiency from a school or other organization authorized to issue such certificates by the Office of Personnel Management local office, or by self-certifying their proficiency. Performance test results and certificates of proficiency are acceptable for three years. We may verify proficiency skills of self-certified applicants by administering the appropriate performance test.
AND
You must also meet the following requirement(s):

  • TIME AFTER COMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT (TACA): By the closing date (or if this is an open continuous announcement, by the cut-off date) specified in this job announcement, current civilian employees must have completed at least 90 days of federal civilian service since their latest non-temporary appointment from a competitive referral certificate, known as time after competitive appointment. For this requirement, a competitive appointment is one where you applied to and were appointed from an announcement open to "All US Citizens"
  • TIME IN GRADE (TIG): For positions above the GS-05,applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year (52 weeks) at the next lower grade level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the grade you are applying for. For positions at the GS-05, you cannot advance to the GS-05 if you have held a GS-02 in the past 52 weeks. There is no TIG restriction for GS-02, 03 or 04 positions.
  • TYPING AND OFFICE AUTOMATION (OA):
    • Typing: This position requires a qualified typist with a minimum typing speed of 40 words per minute (based on a 5-minute sample with three or fewer errors).
    • Office Automation (OA): This position requires experience using office automation systems, software practices and procedures.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Education:A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.
We recommend choosing an evaluator from a member organization of one of the following national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).Employment Type: OTHER

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