Research Summary. Extensive research by the Zippia data science team provides the latest insights into executive assistant salaries across the United States as of 2026:
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New York offers the highest executive assistant salary at $64,314
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South Dakota has the lowest executive assistant salary at $34,519
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The national average salary for executive assistants is $50,539
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The national hourly wage for executive assistants stands at $24.3
You can read more about our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains the most crucial factor for job seekers across demographics, consistently ranking as the top priority in surveys. If you’re wondering, “How much do executive assistants earn in my area?” you’re not alone.
While many factors influence your potential earnings, we provide reliable data reflecting average executive assistant salaries by state, segmented by seniority level. Although local variances may occur, these figures give a general idea of what to expect in terms of salary.
The state with the highest salary for executive assistants is New York, reflecting its competitive job market.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for executive assistant salaries:
Let’s explore how we arrived at these figures, with a comprehensive ranking of all the states.
Highest-Paid Executive Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Executive Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $64,314 | $44,000 | $92,000 |
| 2 | Alaska | $60,362 | $45,000 | $80,000 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $59,840 | $42,000 | $83,000 |
| 4 | Washington | $59,785 | $40,000 | $88,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $59,185 | $41,000 | $83,000 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $59,177 | $41,000 | $85,000 |
| 7 | California | $58,728 | $38,000 | $88,000 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $58,222 | $41,000 | $82,000 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $57,867 | $40,000 | $82,000 |
| 10 | Delaware | $57,642 | $39,000 | $83,000 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $55,871 | $39,000 | $78,000 |
| 12 | Maryland | $55,804 | $38,000 | $80,000 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $52,271 | $36,000 | $75,000 |
| 14 | Virginia | $51,638 | $35,000 | $74,000 |
| 15 | Illinois | $51,071 | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $51,024 | $35,000 | $73,000 |
| 17 | Oregon | $49,887 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 18 | Nevada | $49,161 | $32,000 | $73,000 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $47,684 | $33,000 | $67,000 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $47,155 | $33,000 | $66,000 |
| 21 | Michigan | $46,994 | $32,000 | $67,000 |
| 22 | Vermont | $46,429 | $33,000 | $64,000 |
| 23 | Georgia | $46,327 | $33,000 | $64,000 |
| 24 | Maine | $46,291 | $33,000 | $63,000 |
| 25 | Colorado | $46,095 | $33,000 | $64,000 |
| 26 | Ohio | $45,910 | $31,000 | $66,000 |
| 27 | Arizona | $44,793 | $31,000 | $64,000 |
| 28 | Texas | $44,479 | $31,000 | $62,000 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $43,382 | $30,000 | $61,000 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $42,760 | $30,000 | $59,000 |
| 31 | Utah | $42,754 | $29,000 | $60,000 |
| 32 | Montana | $42,286 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 33 | Kansas | $42,226 | $30,000 | $58,000 |
| 34 | Missouri | $42,218 | $30,000 | $58,000 |
| 35 | Alabama | $41,329 | $29,000 | $57,000 |
| 36 | Idaho | $41,073 | $28,000 | $59,000 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $40,573 | $29,000 | $56,000 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $40,560 | $28,000 | $57,000 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $40,204 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 40 | Florida | $39,997 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 41 | Iowa | $39,900 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $39,466 | $28,000 | $54,000 |
| 43 | Indiana | $39,405 | $27,000 | $55,000 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $37,648 | $27,000 | $52,000 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $36,144 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $35,611 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $35,207 | $25,000 | $49,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $35,143 | $25,000 | $49,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $34,988 | $25,000 | $48,000 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $34,519 | $24,000 | $48,000 |
Methodology: Executive Assistant Salary By State
To analyze executive assistant compensation by state, Zippia has gathered data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is then enriched with actual salary listings from job postings. Our data science team computes a weighted average of these values to present the average pay for executive assistants by state.
This ranking reflects the average annual salary for executive assistants across states, with the highest average salary indicating the top-paying state.
Executive Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for executive assistants?
The highest-paid state for executive assistants is New York, boasting an average salary of $64,314 per year.
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What city pays executive assistants the most?
San Francisco, CA leads in compensation for executive assistants, with an average salary of $64,830 per year.
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What is the worst state for executive assistants?
The lowest-paying state for executive assistants is South Dakota, with an average salary of $34,519 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
