Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for an Executive Secretary or Administrative Assistant is approximately $55,653 per year, translating to about $27 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on various factors, including experience, geographic location, and the specific industry of employment.
In cities like San Francisco and New York, salaries typically exceed the national average, reflecting the localized demand for skilled administrative professionals. In contrast, positions in smaller markets may offer lower compensation but can provide valuable opportunities for career advancement.
Additionally, industries such as technology and finance often pay higher wages compared to sectors like education or non-profits. Understanding these dynamics helps job seekers align their career paths with potential earnings. This page also breaks down salaries by state, highlighting trends that inform your job search strategy.
Let Zippia find your next executive secretary, administrative assistant job
Let Zippia find your next executive secretary, administrative assistant job
The average executive secretary, administrative assistant salary in Connecticut, New York, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average executive secretary, administrative assistant salary states are Kansas, Nebraska, and Alaska.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $73,403 | $35.29 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $75,119 | $36.11 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $60,139 | $28.91 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $60,596 | $29.13 |
| 5 | Nevada | $60,212 | $28.95 |
| 6 | Delaware | $62,048 | $29.83 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $59,876 | $28.79 |
| 8 | Virginia | $61,953 | $29.79 |
| 9 | Washington | $58,267 | $28.01 |
| 10 | New York | $66,561 | $32.00 |
| 11 | Georgia | $58,406 | $28.08 |
| 12 | Colorado | $55,859 | $26.86 |
| 13 | Illinois | $54,275 | $26.09 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $60,639 | $29.15 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $54,112 | $26.02 |
| 16 | Maryland | $58,539 | $28.14 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | $53,694 | $25.81 |
| 18 | Arizona | $52,987 | $25.47 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $51,273 | $24.65 |
| 20 | Ohio | $52,573 | $25.28 |
| 21 | Michigan | $53,293 | $25.62 |
| 22 | California | $61,471 | $29.55 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $51,819 | $24.91 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $48,608 | $23.37 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $48,943 | $23.53 |
| 27 | Texas | $47,379 | $22.78 |
| 28 | Missouri | $49,139 | $23.62 |
| 29 | Indiana | $49,094 | $23.60 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $49,228 | $23.67 |
| 31 | Oregon | $52,055 | $25.03 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $47,126 | $22.66 |
| 33 | Alabama | $47,926 | $23.04 |
| 34 | Utah | $44,364 | $21.33 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| 36 | Montana | $41,431 | $19.92 |
| 37 | Vermont | $43,602 | $20.96 |
| 38 | Florida | $42,401 | $20.39 |
| 39 | Iowa | $45,192 | $21.73 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $44,613 | $21.45 |
| 41 | Idaho | $40,971 | $19.70 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $45,557 | $21.90 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $42,716 | $20.54 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $43,836 | $21.07 |
| 45 | Alaska | $39,271 | $18.88 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $42,466 | $20.42 |
| 47 | Maine | $38,963 | $18.73 |
| 48 | Kansas | $40,469 | $19.46 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $39,823 | $19.15 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $37,140 | $17.86 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $37,506 | $18.03 |
The highest-paying cities for executive secretaries, administrative assistant are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Richmond, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $75,170 | $36.14 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $66,914 | $32.17 |
| 3 | Richmond, CA | $66,008 | $31.73 |
| 4 | Arlington, VA | $63,504 | $30.53 |
| 5 | Teaneck, NJ | $60,486 | $29.08 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $60,396 | $29.04 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $59,874 | $28.79 |
| 8 | Lynnwood, WA | $58,589 | $28.17 |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $55,826 | $26.84 |
| 10 | Lake in the Hills, IL | $54,279 | $26.10 |
| 11 | Boston, MA | $53,483 | $25.71 |
| 12 | Lansing, MI | $52,933 | $25.45 |
| 13 | Lafayette, IN | $49,024 | $23.57 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $47,185 | $22.69 |
| 15 | Deerfield Beach, FL | $42,363 | $20.37 |
An executive secretary, administrative assistant's salary ranges from $38,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $79,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $55,653 | $4,638 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
Top companies hiring executive secretaries, administrative assistant now:
Executive secretary, administrative assistant salaries at Ernst & Young and NTT Data International L.L.C. Are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average executive secretary, administrative assistant salary at companies like Subaru and Virginia Hospital Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ernst & Young | $101,729 | $48.91 |
| 2 | NTT Data International L.L.C. | $94,589 | $45.48 |
| 3 | Subaru | $80,300 | $38.61 |
| 4 | Virginia Hospital Center | $59,399 | $28.56 |
| 5 | Precise Systems | $57,102 | $27.45 |
| 6 | The Sinclair Companies | $56,695 | $27.26 |
| 7 | *n/a* | $56,467 | $27.15 |
| 8 | Hope Presbyterian Church | $56,448 | $27.14 |
| 9 | Sierra Health Care | $50,720 | $24.38 |
| 10 | GoodTemps | $48,641 | $23.39 |
| 11 | H | $46,053 | $22.14 |
| 12 | State Bar of Michigan | $45,786 | $22.01 |
| 13 | Reebok | $33,903 | $16.30 |
The average executive secretary, administrative assistant salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $59,538 | $28.62 |
| 2 | Professional | $59,190 | $28.46 |
| 3 | Non Profits | $57,698 | $27.74 |
| 4 | Media | $55,125 | $26.50 |
| 5 | Health Care | $55,075 | $26.48 |
| 6 | Finance | $54,439 | $26.17 |
| 7 | Government | $49,686 | $23.89 |
The average executive secretary, administrative assistant salary has risen by $15,458 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average executive secretary, administrative assistant earned $40,195 annually, but today, they earn $55,653 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for executive secretaries, administrative assistant over the last decade.
Compare executive secretary, administrative assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare executive secretary, administrative assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $55,700 | $26.76 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $53,700 | $25.82 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $52,300 | $25.16 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $50,600 | $24.34 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $49,300 | $23.68 | +4.5% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Datrose | Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistant | Buffalo, NY | 05/15/2025 | $52,175 |
| Tekla Research | Executive Secretary/Executive Administrative Assistant, Journeyman | Maryland | 03/14/2025 | $52,000 |
| Course Advisor Inc. | Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | Hope, ME | 02/17/2025 | $61,140 |
| Trade College | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | Washington, DC | 02/17/2025 | $35,670 |
| GNO Inc. | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | Bright, IN | 02/17/2025 | $41,000 |
| Course Advisor Inc. | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | Washington, DC | 02/16/2025 | $35,670 |
| Precise Systems, Inc. | Executive Secretary/Executive Administrative Assistant | Lexington Park, MD | 02/12/2025 | $50,824 |
| New Mexico Corrections Department | Executive Secretary & Administrative Assistant III (Nmcd #15868) | Santa Fe, NM | 01/25/2025 | $38,140 |
| Trade College | Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | Hope, ME | 12/10/2024 | $61,140 |
| Business Degree Central | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | Washington, DC | 10/24/2024 | $35,670 |
Search for executive secretary, administrative assistant jobs