Highest-Paying Secretary Jobs [2026]
Research Summary. The Zippia data team has leveraged updated public government statistics and company data, alongside an analysis of thousands of job postings, to provide average salary estimates across the US. This research identifies which types of secretaries command the highest salaries based on their average annual earnings.
Here’s a summary of our findings regarding the highest-paying types of secretaries:
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Assistant Secretary leads as the highest-paid type of secretary with an average salary of $107,366 and an hourly rate of $51.62.
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The second highest-paying type is the Executive Secretary, with an average salary of $46,594.
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The overall average salary for secretaries is $36,442 per year, equating to $17.52 per hour.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be challenging. While salary is an important consideration, it shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision-making process. Understanding the highest-paid types of secretaries can help you strategically plan your career advancement.
Here are the top salaries for various types of secretaries:
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Assistant Secretary
Average Salary: $107,366
An Assistant Secretary performs administrative and clerical duties to support various departments and management personnel, ensuring efficient business operations. Responsibilities may include business communications, client interactions, data entry, and report creation.
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Executive Secretary
Average Salary: $46,594
Executive Secretaries provide clerical support to executives, managing schedules, answering phone calls, preparing important documents, and performing bookkeeping tasks.
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Legal Secretary
Average Salary: $41,725
Legal Secretaries manage administrative tasks within law firms, including document management, legal research, and drafting legal documents.
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Administrative Professional
Average Salary: $39,486
Administrative Professionals specialize in administrative tasks, managing schedules, producing reports, and supporting executives with correspondence and inquiries.
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Administrative Specialist
Average Salary: $38,758
Administrative Specialists oversee clerical tasks, manage schedules, conduct research, and maintain records for supervisors and management staff.
Below is a detailed table of the average salaries for various types of secretaries.
Highest-Paying Types Of Secretaries
Methodology
The salary estimates provided by Zippia are derived from publicly accessible information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Our data science team also analyzes job postings and company resources for the most current salary information for secretarial roles.
Using this data, we calculate a weighted average for each job title. For more in-depth information on our salary estimates, please refer to our detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Secretary Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid secretary job?
The highest-paid secretary job is an Assistant Secretary. Assistant Secretaries earn an average salary of $107,366, which translates to $51.62 per hour.
In this role, an Assistant Secretary performs vital administrative and clerical tasks to support the daily operations of various departments, ensuring operational efficiency.
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What is a good salary for a secretary?
A good salary for a secretary is $36,442 or more. This figure represents the average salary, so those earning at least this amount are receiving above-average pay.
However, salaries may vary based on location and cost of living, so it’s advisable to research salaries in your area for an accurate comparison.
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Do Secretary jobs pay well?
In general, secretary jobs have modest salaries. While some positions may offer higher pay, the average salary of $36,442 is lower than the national average salary of approximately $44,225.
However, many secretaries, especially those in the top 10%, can earn upwards of $59,363 annually.
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Where do secretaries get paid the most?
Secretaries earn the highest salaries in Massachusetts. In this state, the average annual salary for secretaries is $43,694, with an hourly wage of $21.01.
The other top-paying states include Connecticut, Washington, and New York, with average salaries of $43,775, $42,318, and $39,836 respectively.
Top cities for secretary salaries are:
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San Francisco, CA – $47,908
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Boston, MA – $43,608
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Washington, DC – $43,233
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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.
