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School secretary salary
Average school secretary salary
$35,126
School Secretary Salary Overview
As of October 2025, the average salary for a school secretary in the United States stands at $35,126 annually, translating to about $17 per hour. This role is essential in managing administrative tasks, supporting educational staff, and enhancing the overall learning environment.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several elements contribute to the salary variations for school secretaries:
- Location: Salaries differ by state and district, with urban areas typically offering higher pay.
- Experience: Entry-level positions may start lower, but those with more experience can command higher salaries.
- School Type: Public, private, and charter schools may have different pay scales.
Salary by State
The highest-paying states for school secretaries include California, New York, and Massachusetts. These states often have a higher cost of living but also provide more resources for educational institutions, which can lead to better compensation for administrative roles.
For aspiring school secretaries, understanding the salary landscape can help you gauge your earning potential and navigate your career path effectively.
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Where can a School Secretary earn more?
School secretary salaries by experience level
School secretary salary estimates from across the web
Average school secretary salary by state
The average school secretary salary in Washington, California, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average school secretary salary states are Virginia, West Virginia, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for school secretaries
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $41,039 | $19.73 |
| 2 | Oregon | $38,859 | $18.68 |
| 3 | Washington | $42,690 | $20.52 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $35,558 | $17.10 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $33,763 | $16.23 |
| 6 | California | $41,266 | $19.84 |
| 7 | Nevada | $33,392 | $16.05 |
| 8 | Idaho | $31,593 | $15.19 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $31,415 | $15.10 |
| 10 | Hawaii | $40,799 | $19.61 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $35,442 | $17.04 |
| 12 | Colorado | $32,531 | $15.64 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $35,526 | $17.08 |
| 14 | Montana | $29,695 | $14.28 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $32,233 | $15.50 |
| 16 | Utah | $35,973 | $17.29 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $29,403 | $14.14 |
| 18 | Arizona | $29,288 | $14.08 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $32,349 | $15.55 |
| 20 | Illinois | $28,418 | $13.66 |
| 21 | Kansas | $29,568 | $14.22 |
| 22 | Maine | $27,394 | $13.17 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $28,647 | $13.77 |
| 24 | Vermont | $28,544 | $13.72 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $28,045 | $13.48 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $27,658 | $13.30 |
| 27 | Michigan | $25,874 | $12.44 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $25,819 | $12.41 |
| 29 | New York | $27,164 | $13.06 |
| 30 | Ohio | $25,074 | $12.05 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $26,704 | $12.84 |
| 32 | Alabama | $27,593 | $13.27 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $24,772 | $11.91 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $26,645 | $12.81 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $26,586 | $12.78 |
| 36 | Texas | $26,310 | $12.65 |
| 37 | Missouri | $25,711 | $12.36 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $27,117 | $13.04 |
| 39 | Maryland | $25,374 | $12.20 |
| 40 | Georgia | $26,187 | $12.59 |
| 41 | Iowa | $25,699 | $12.36 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $24,634 | $11.84 |
| 43 | Florida | $24,684 | $11.87 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $24,304 | $11.68 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $23,182 | $11.15 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $24,454 | $11.76 |
| 47 | Indiana | $22,381 | $10.76 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $23,380 | $11.24 |
| 49 | Virginia | $24,036 | $11.56 |
| 50 | Delaware | $20,983 | $10.09 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $22,029 | $10.59 |
Highest paying cities for school secretaries
The highest-paying cities for school secretaries are Santa Rosa, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Rosa, CA | $43,064 | $20.70 |
| 2 | Minneapolis, MN | $33,762 | $16.23 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $33,129 | $15.93 |
| 4 | Thornton, CO | $32,521 | $15.64 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $32,231 | $15.50 |
| 6 | Idaho Falls, ID | $30,802 | $14.81 |
| 7 | Helena, MT | $29,932 | $14.39 |
| 8 | Danbury, CT | $29,378 | $14.12 |
| 9 | Chandler, AZ | $29,264 | $14.07 |
| 10 | Paterson, NJ | $28,823 | $13.86 |
| 11 | Palatine, IL | $28,515 | $13.71 |
| 12 | Albuquerque, NM | $27,790 | $13.36 |
| 13 | Brentwood, NY | $27,204 | $13.08 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $26,197 | $12.59 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $25,781 | $12.39 |
| 16 | Frederick, MD | $25,439 | $12.23 |
| 17 | Akron, OH | $25,083 | $12.06 |
| 18 | Edmond, OK | $24,757 | $11.90 |
School secretary salary details
A school secretary's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a school secretary's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| Average | $35,126 | $2,927 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying school secretary jobs
The highest paying types of school secretaries are assistant secretary, executive secretary, and administrative professional.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Professional | $39,486 | $3,291 | $18.98 | 87,372 |
| Administrative Clerk | $32,327 | $2,694 | $15.54 | 137,639 |
| Administrative Receptionist | $31,502 | $2,625 | $15.15 | 91,892 |
| Department Secretary | $35,473 | $2,956 | $17.05 | 80,303 |
| Administrator Secretary | $34,336 | $2,861 | $16.51 | 99,520 |
| Receptionist Secretary | $29,343 | $2,445 | $14.11 | 61,892 |
Which companies pay school secretaries the most?
School secretary salaries at Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 and Boston Public Schools are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average school secretary salary at companies like Eureka Ergonomic and Grossmont College are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 | $59,642 | $28.67 |
| 2 | Boston Public Schools | $49,491 | $23.79 |
| 3 | Eureka Ergonomic | $45,473 | $21.86 |
| 4 | Grossmont College | $43,644 | $20.98 |
| 5 | Oak Grove School | $41,374 | $19.89 |
| 6 | The University of Chicago | $40,615 | $19.53 |
| 7 | Athlos Academies | $40,228 | $19.34 |
| 8 | Santa Rosa City Schools | $39,714 | $19.09 |
| 9 | Topeka Public Schools | $39,692 | $19.08 |
| 10 | Robbinsdale Area Schools | $39,643 | $19.06 |
| 11 | Mount Zion Christian Schools | $39,624 | $19.05 |
| 12 | Akron Municipal Court | $39,313 | $18.90 |
| 13 | Legacy Traditional Schools | $39,196 | $18.84 |
| 14 | St. Augustine Preparatory Academy | $38,591 | $18.55 |
| 15 | Montgomery County Public Schools | $38,481 | $18.50 |
| 16 | Castro Valley USD | $37,924 | $18.23 |
| 17 | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | $37,450 | $18.00 |
| 18 | Baldwin Park Unified School District | $37,429 | $17.99 |
| 19 | Culver City Unified School District | $37,264 | $17.92 |
| 20 | Sterling High School | $37,219 | $17.89 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
School secretary salary trends
The average school secretary salary has risen by $6,311 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average school secretary earned $28,815 annually, but today, they earn $35,126 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for school secretaries over the last decade.
Compare school secretary salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average school secretary salary over time
Compare school secretary salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
School secretary salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,100 | $16.89 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $34,100 | $16.38 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $33,100 | $15.92 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $32,200 | $15.47 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $31,500 | $15.14 | +2.6% |
Recently added school secretary salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County Public Schools | Fy26 School Secretary II, Paint Branch HS, 12Mos, Extended Ad Closes/25 | Burtonsville, MD | 06/29/2025 | $47,730 |
| Millburn Township Public Schools | School Secretary | Millburn, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $43,040 |
| Ohio Department of Education | Lebanon City Schools: Substitute Secretary) | Enon, OH | 06/28/2025 | $34,436 |
| Illinois Association of School | School Secretary | Tonica, IL | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Public School of North Carolina | School Secretary | Chapel Hill, NC | 06/28/2025 | $36,836 |
| Gloucester Township School District | School Secretary- | Downe, NJ | 06/28/2025 | $24,011 |
| North Olmsted City Schools | Secretary I-High School/Middle School Bursar | Enon, OH | 06/27/2025 | $40,216 |
| Mason City School District | Lebanon City Schools: Substitute Secretary) | Mason, OH | 06/27/2025 | $34,436 |
| Archdiocese of Chicago, Office of Catholic Schools | School Secretary-OUR Lady of Perpetual Help School-Glenview-VIC I | Glenview, IL | 06/27/2025 | $45,000 |
| Lansing School District | School Secretary | Lansing, MI | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
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