Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the updated personal assistant salary data by state for 2026 in the United States:
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New York leads with the highest personal assistant salary at $67,632
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Tennessee has the lowest personal assistant salary at $32,164
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The national average salary for personal assistants stands at $40,026
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The national hourly wage for personal assistants is $19.24
For more details, check our specific methodology.
Background
In various surveys, salary consistently ranks as the top priority for job seekers. Many individuals inquire, “How much do personal assistants earn in my area?”
While several factors influence your specific earning potential, robust data is available on average personal assistant salaries across states, categorized by seniority level. Though your city may deviate slightly from state averages, these figures provide a valuable benchmark for salary expectations.
As of 2026, New York maintains its position as the state with the highest salary for personal assistants.
Below is a brief overview of the top ten states for personal assistant salaries:
Now, let’s explore the full ranking of personal assistant salaries across all states.
Highest-Paid Personal Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Personal Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $67,632 | $41,000 | $111,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $54,037 | $33,000 | $85,000 |
| 3 | Maine | $52,752 | $34,000 | $81,000 |
| 4 | Delaware | $50,817 | $30,000 | $84,000 |
| 5 | Washington | $50,438 | $35,000 | $71,000 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $49,874 | $30,000 | $81,000 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $49,437 | $30,000 | $79,000 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $48,078 | $30,000 | $76,000 |
| 9 | California | $47,818 | $32,000 | $71,000 |
| 10 | Vermont | $47,508 | $30,000 | $74,000 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $47,492 | $29,000 | $76,000 |
| 12 | Michigan | $47,158 | $29,000 | $75,000 |
| 13 | Alaska | $46,493 | $37,000 | $56,000 |
| 14 | Colorado | $46,487 | $32,000 | $66,000 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $44,528 | $30,000 | $65,000 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $43,524 | $28,000 | $67,000 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $42,898 | $28,000 | $64,000 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $42,188 | $25,000 | $69,000 |
| 19 | Maryland | $42,114 | $25,000 | $69,000 |
| 20 | Nevada | $41,425 | $28,000 | $61,000 |
| 21 | Utah | $41,027 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 22 | Illinois | $40,017 | $25,000 | $61,000 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $39,756 | $27,000 | $58,000 |
| 24 | Virginia | $39,526 | $24,000 | $64,000 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $39,457 | $26,000 | $57,000 |
| 26 | Texas | $39,381 | $26,000 | $58,000 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $38,797 | $23,000 | $63,000 |
| 28 | Florida | $38,149 | $24,000 | $59,000 |
| 29 | Iowa | $38,051 | $25,000 | $56,000 |
| 30 | Oregon | $37,843 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $37,488 | $26,000 | $53,000 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $36,773 | $23,000 | $57,000 |
| 33 | Kansas | $36,512 | $24,000 | $53,000 |
| 34 | Georgia | $36,184 | $23,000 | $55,000 |
| 35 | Indiana | $36,063 | $23,000 | $56,000 |
| 36 | Arizona | $35,863 | $24,000 | $52,000 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $35,622 | $22,000 | $55,000 |
| 38 | Hawaii | $34,831 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $34,528 | $23,000 | $50,000 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $34,490 | $21,000 | $55,000 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $34,148 | $23,000 | $50,000 |
| 42 | Montana | $34,069 | $23,000 | $48,000 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $34,065 | $22,000 | $50,000 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $33,979 | $22,000 | $51,000 |
| 45 | Missouri | $33,711 | $22,000 | $49,000 |
| 46 | Idaho | $33,406 | $23,000 | $47,000 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $33,404 | $22,000 | $48,000 |
| 48 | Ohio | $33,047 | $20,000 | $53,000 |
| 49 | Alabama | $32,670 | $21,000 | $49,000 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $32,164 | $21,000 | $48,000 |
Methodology: Personal Assistant Salary By State
To analyze personal assistant compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is supplemented with actual salaries from job postings. Our data science team then calculates a weighted average based on these inputs to determine average pay for personal assistants by state.
We assessed average annual salary data for personal assistants and ranked each state accordingly, with the state featuring the highest average salary taking the top spot.
Personal Assistant Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for personal assistants?
The highest-paid state for personal assistants is New York with an average salary of $67,632 per year.
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What city pays personal assistants the most?
New York, NY offers the highest average salary for personal assistants at $67,982 per year.
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What is the lowest-paying state for personal assistants?
The lowest-paying state for personal assistants is Tennessee, with an average salary of $32,164 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.
