- Categories:
- Appreciation
- Tags:
- AwarenessCareersWork
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Week starting with the 3rd Sunday of April
- Holiday emoji:
- 👩‍💼
Administrative Professionals Week recognizes the indispensable contributions of administrative staff every April. From April 19-25, 2026, this week serves as a dedicated time to celebrate the receptionists, assistants, and support personnel who power businesses daily. Show your appreciation, acknowledge their hard work, and elevate their crucial role in your organization.
Want to sponsor Administrative Professionals Week? Learn how
History of Administrative Professionals Week
Ever wondered what the corporate world would look like without the administrative office? A giant mess! Zero organization — talk visitors storming in and out; jumbled data, reports, payrolls; missed meetings, lack of confidentiality; plus, everyone gets to deal with the headache of travel and accommodation, among other arising matters. The importance of the administrative department cannot be overemphasized and spans various duties, thereby ensuring the smooth running of an organization on a day-to-day basis.
The Administrative Professionals Week, established by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (I.A.A.P.) in 1952, traces its roots to the National Secretaries Association (N.S.A.) when the first National Secretaries Week, now known as Administrative Professionals Week, was held. The National Secretaries Association was established in 1942. It was set up as an initiative to recognize the importance of secretaries to the corporate workplace as well as showcase the field as a worthy profession calling for more intakes.
It would be in 1981 become Professionals Secretaries Week, and later Administrative Professionals Week (APW) in 2000 came about. Before this, in 1965, National Secretaries Week was moved to the last full week of April. National Administrative Professionals’ Day, also known as Secretaries Day or Admin Day, is celebrated on the Wednesday of the last full week in April annually. Key figures behind the movement of the Administrative Professionals Week are Mary Hagan Barrett, Founder of the National Secretaries Association as well as National Secretaries Day; C. King Woodbridge, President of Dictaphone Corporation together with public relations account executives at Young & Rubicam, Harry F. Klemfuss and Daren Ball.
Administrative Professionals Week timeline
World War II ushers in a drastic decline of skilled administrative personnel in the U.S.
The I.A.A.P (then known as the National Secretaries Association) is founded in Topeka, Kansas, in 1942, to boost professional networks and provide educational resources for secretarial staff for a more professional image.
In 1952, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Charles Sawyer, proclaims June 1 to 7 as National Secretaries Week.
June 4 is designated the first National Secretaries Day.
The National Secretaries Association changes the date of Secretaries' Week to the last full week in April.
Professional Secretaries Week in April 2000 is renamed Administrative Professionals Week, while Professional Secretaries Day becomes Administrative Professionals Day, in an expansion of today’s administrative workforce.
Administrative Professionals Week FAQs
When is Administrative Professionals Week?
In 2027, Administrative Professionals Week is observed from Sunday, April 18, to Saturday, April 24. It’s a prime opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of administrative professionals across all industries.
How many administrative professionals are there in the U.S.?
The administrative support sector remains a substantial part of the U.S. workforce, with millions of professionals contributing to various industries. Their collective efforts are crucial for operational efficiency and business success nationwide.
What is the average salary for an administrative professional?
While salaries fluctuate, administrative professionals typically earn a competitive wage that reflects their critical skills and responsibilities. Many roles also offer benefits and opportunities for career advancement within organizations.
Is Administrative Professionals Week a federal holiday?
While widely celebrated in workplaces across the country, Administrative Professionals Week does not carry federal holiday status. Businesses and organizations typically observe it with internal recognition events and gestures of appreciation.
Administrative Professionals Week Activities
Treat administrative staff with respect
Admin is the backbone of any organization. They are the faces and brains behind the organization or the business world and need to be recognized and treated with respect. They are professionals who give their all, not mere messengers or errand boys.
Spoil them with gifts
You could honor them with happy hour, gifts, special office celebrations, and, of course, a thank-you. It is their week so go on and spoil them.
Social Media announcements
#AdminProfessionalsDay — let that hashtag rain on social media. Making the administrative department feel recognized and celebrated enables them to know they're indeed part of the team. This goes a long way to boost their morale.
Why We Love
Administrative jobs today have more repute
Way back administrative duties were merged with secretarial jobs and were assigned basic tasks such as coffee-making; today it comes with more opportunities, including career advancement.
Administrative officer salary
An administrative officer in the U.S. earns an average salary of $76,425 per year.
The first Administrative Professionals Week name
It was first known as National Secretaries Week upon launching in 1952.
Administrative Professionals Day has varying dates
While it is celebrated in the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, and Malaysia annually on the Wednesday of the last full week of April, New Zealand celebrates the third Wednesday of April; Belgium, France, and the Netherlands third Thursday of April, etc.
It is not a holiday
While it is observed in a small number of countries, normal office activities still hold.
Why We Love Administrative Professionals Week
Reminds us to accord staff respect
They might not be the ones getting all the glory, but the fact is they power the smooth running of any organization. As such, they should be given due recognition and respect as professionals.
Urges us to advocate for commensurate pay
A lot of work goes into administration work. It is therefore in order that each administrative officer should be given pay that equates to their input.
Begs for more open opportunities
A more enabling environment for administrative staff to thrive must be put in place in the workplace. This is a sure way to grow any business.
Administrative Professionals Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April 19–25 | Sunday–Saturday |
| 2027 | April 18–24 | Sunday–Saturday |
| 2028 | April 23–29 | Sunday–Saturday |
| 2029 | April 22–28 | Sunday–Saturday |
| 2030 | April 21–27 | Sunday–Saturday |
