How much does a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant make?
The median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant in the United States earns $74,260 per year, about $35.70 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 43-6011.
Executive secretary and executive administrative assistant salary range
Pay for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $48,300 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $107,710. The average (mean) wage of $77,060 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,300 | $23.22 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $60,000 | $28.85 | |
| Median (50th) | $74,260 | $35.70 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $90,440 | $43.48 | |
| 90th percentile | $107,710 | $51.78 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (SOC 43-6011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Executive secretary and executive administrative assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn the most in District of Columbia at $85,520 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $49,310. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $85,520 | 4,640 |
| California | $84,790 | 63,250 |
| New Jersey | $83,740 | 12,850 |
| Connecticut | $80,510 | 6,660 |
| New York | $80,490 | 88,830 |
| Massachusetts | $79,360 | 16,630 |
| Delaware | $78,480 | 1,330 |
| Washington | $78,140 | 10,570 |
| Virginia | $77,640 | 9,600 |
| Hawaii | $77,510 | 1,210 |
| Minnesota | $76,850 | 7,830 |
| Maryland | $75,760 | 15,940 |
| Illinois | $74,410 | 13,490 |
| New Mexico | $71,930 | 3,130 |
| Oregon | $70,300 | 6,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $69,890 | 11,870 |
| New Hampshire | $69,850 | 1,320 |
| Texas | $69,580 | 35,090 |
| Rhode Island | $69,380 | 1,200 |
| Alabama | $68,310 | 3,040 |
| Georgia | $67,990 | 12,710 |
| Arizona | $67,930 | 6,640 |
| Vermont | $67,450 | 800 |
| Ohio | $66,270 | 11,040 |
| Wisconsin | $66,260 | 4,430 |
| North Carolina | $66,000 | 9,610 |
| Tennessee | $65,660 | 5,080 |
| Michigan | $65,400 | 8,960 |
| Florida | $65,350 | 19,950 |
| Colorado | $64,620 | 10,120 |
| Nevada | $64,170 | 2,610 |
| Nebraska | $64,110 | 2,150 |
| Kansas | $63,930 | 3,180 |
| Alaska | $63,710 | 1,580 |
| Maine | $61,460 | 2,690 |
| South Carolina | $60,650 | 3,690 |
| North Dakota | $60,170 | 430 |
| Montana | $60,050 | 490 |
| Iowa | $59,440 | 4,460 |
| Idaho | $59,100 | 1,150 |
| Kentucky | $58,990 | 3,430 |
| Indiana | $58,330 | 5,330 |
| West Virginia | $57,310 | 890 |
| Missouri | $56,940 | 9,550 |
| Oklahoma | $56,680 | 3,260 |
| Utah | $55,900 | 6,960 |
| Mississippi | $54,090 | 1,490 |
| Arkansas | $52,680 | 2,000 |
| Wyoming | $51,540 | 530 |
| South Dakota | $50,340 | 1,600 |
| Louisiana | $49,310 | 10,810 |
State median wages for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (SOC 43-6011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
The BLS projects employment of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants to hold roughly steady from 2025 to 2035. That is little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 489,300 jobs in 2025 moving toward 489,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 43,300 openings a year for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant
The typical entry-level education for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $85,520) and the lowest (Louisiana, $49,310) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 472,770 people work as executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in the United States. At $74,260 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Executive secretary and executive administrative assistant salary FAQ
How much does an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant is $35.70. The middle half of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn between $28.85 and $43.48 per hour.
What is the highest executive secretary and executive administrative assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn more than $107,710 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant is $74,260. The average (mean) wage of $77,060 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant a well paid job?
At $74,260 a year, an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 472,770 people work as executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in the United States.
Which state pays executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants at $85,520 a year. California ($84,790) and New Jersey ($83,740) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant a good career?
Employment of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants is projected to hold roughly steady 0% from 2025 to 2035, little or no change, compared with 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 43,300 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an executive secretary and executive administrative assistant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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