Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of assistants that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of assistants:
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Assistant Secretary is the highest-paid type of assistant with an average salary of $107,366 and an average hourly rate of $51.62.
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The second highest-paying type of assistant is administrative assistant/technical, with an average salary of $42,541.
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The average assistant salary is $37,363 per year, and the average hourly pay is $17.96.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as an assistant, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of assistants are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of assistants:
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Assistant Secretary
Average Salary: $107,366
An assistant secretary is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of various departments and management personnel and ensure the efficiency of business functions. Assistant secretaries usually assist in business communications, responding to customers’ inquiries and concerns, reaching out to existing clients to schedule appointments, welcoming guests on the office, and routing calls to the appropriate department. They also handle data entry procedures, updating customer information on the database, as well as creating reports on business and financial transactions.
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Administrative Assistant/Technical
Average Salary: $42,541
An administrative assistant/technical is primarily responsible for performing clerical and support tasks in a company, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. They must produce progress reports, process documentation, receive communication letters, manage schedules, and even greet visitors. There are also instances when an administrative assistant/technical has to answer calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries, address issues and concerns, and resolve them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions, coordinate with different departments, and adhere to the company’s policies and regulations.
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Contract Administrative Assistant
Average Salary: $39,073
A contract administrative assistant works on a contractual basis at offices where they are in charge of performing support tasks. Among their responsibilities include answering calls and correspondence, filing and organizing documents, coordinating with different departments, arranging appointments and schedules, preparing and processing files, and running errands as needed. They may also monitor the inventory of office supplies, processing procurement requests when necessary. Furthermore, a contract administrative assistant must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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Project Assistant
Average Salary: $38,564
A project assistant’s role mainly revolves around assisting a project manager. The responsibilities may vary upon the industry or organization. Still, most of them will be administrative tasks such as preparing reports and documentation, responding to calls and other forms of correspondence, and coordinating with various offices and personnel. Furthermore, a Project Assistant must also ensure the department’s efficient workflow, proper utilization of budget, review documentation and schedules, attend meetings, and maintain an information database.
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Team Assistant
Average Salary: $38,411
A team assistant is an employee who is responsible for performing administrative duties to help members of the office team focus on their assigned projects. Under the direct supervision of team leaders, team assistants are required to schedule appointments with clients, organize internal team meetings, and alert team members of upcoming deadlines. They keep track of project expenses and purchase receipts and input those numbers into an accounting software program or spreadsheet. Team assistants must also order supplies and products when inventories are low.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various assistant that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Assistants
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for assistants.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Assistant Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid assistant job?
The highest-paid assistant job is an assistant secretary. Assistant Secretaries earn an average salary of $107,366, which is $ 51.62 hourly.
An assistant secretary is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support the daily operations of various departments and management personnel and ensure the efficiency of business functions. Assistant secretaries usually assist in business communications, responding to customers’ inquiries and concerns, reaching out to existing clients to schedule appointments, welcoming guests on the office, and routing calls to the appropriate department. They also handle data entry procedures, updating customer information on the database, as well as creating reports on business and financial transactions.
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What is a good salary for an assistant?
A good salary for an assistant is $37,363 or more. The average assistant salary is $37,363, so those making at least $37,363 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average assistant salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as an assistant, the average entry level salary is $27,222, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $37,363 average, as this includes all assistants of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Assistant jobs pay well?
No, assistant jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some assistant jobs pay better than others, but the average assistant salary of $37,363 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many assistant jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of assistants earning $60,863 a year on average.
Assistants’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as an assistant. Do your research on the going rate for an assistant in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do assistants get paid the most?
Assistants get paid the most in Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, assistants earn an average annual salary of $86,498 and an average hourly wage of $41.59.
Following MA, the states with the highest-paid assistants are New York, Maine, and New Hampshire, with average annual salaries of $76,802, $68,164, and $66,664 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid assistant salaries are:
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Boston, MA – $95,026
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Washington, DC – $89,016
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Huntington, NY – $81,410
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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.
