Best cities for a secretary
The best cities for secretaries are Stockton, CA, Long Beach, CA, and Sacramento, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for secretaries vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for secretaries in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a secretary or considering a move, this list of the best cities for secretaries to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for secretaries. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a secretary. While the absolute best city for secretaries is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for secretaries in 2024.
If you're looking for a secretary job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for secretaries in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Total secretary jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $47,705 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 2.66 2. Long Beach, CA
Secretary jobs in Long BeachTotal secretary jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $45,420 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location quotient: 4.02 3. Sacramento, CA
Secretary jobs in SacramentoTotal secretary jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $47,734 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 1.81 4. Riverside, CA
Secretary jobs in RiversideTotal secretary jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $45,196 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location quotient: 2.84 5. Santa Ana, CA
Secretary jobs in Santa AnaTotal secretary jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $45,309 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Location quotient: 2.27 6. Albuquerque, NM
Secretary jobs in AlbuquerqueTotal secretary jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $35,103 Lowest 10 percent warn: $23,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Location quotient: 2.83 7. Chula Vista, CA
Total secretary jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $44,709 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location quotient: 2.62 8. Los Angeles, CA
Secretary jobs in Los AngelesTotal secretary jobs: 77 Average annual salary: $45,608 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location quotient: 1.70 9. Oakland, CA
Secretary jobs in OaklandTotal secretary jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $47,868 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Location quotient: 0.99 10. Bakersfield, CA
Secretary jobs in BakersfieldTotal secretary jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $46,427 Lowest 10 percent warn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location quotient: 1.25
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Best cities for secretaries
- Stockton, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Riverside, CA
- Santa Ana, CA
- Albuquerque, NM
- Chula Vista, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
Detailed list of the best cities for a secretary
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $47,705 | $33,000 | 307,072 | 5 |
| 2 | Long Beach, CA | $45,420 | $32,000 | 470,130 | 13 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $47,734 | $33,000 | 495,234 | 20 |
| 4 | Riverside, CA | $45,196 | $32,000 | 324,722 | 9 |
| 5 | Santa Ana, CA | $45,309 | $32,000 | 334,217 | 6 |
| 6 | Albuquerque, NM | $35,103 | $23,000 | 559,277 | 20 |
| 7 | Chula Vista, CA | $44,709 | $32,000 | 267,172 | 2 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $45,608 | $32,000 | 3,976,322 | 77 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $47,868 | $33,000 | 420,005 | 5 |
| 10 | Bakersfield, CA | $46,427 | $32,000 | 376,380 | 3 |
| 11 | Anchorage, AK | $38,629 | $34,000 | 298,192 | 6 |
| 12 | Memphis, TN | $31,752 | $21,000 | 652,717 | 17 |
| 13 | Toledo, OH | $30,033 | $20,000 | 278,508 | 9 |
| 14 | San Diego, CA | $44,791 | $32,000 | 1,406,630 | 32 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $32,766 | $22,000 | 672,795 | 24 |
| 16 | Anaheim, CA | $45,353 | $32,000 | 351,043 | 2 |
| 17 | Newark, NJ | $39,237 | $25,000 | 281,764 | 13 |
| 18 | Boston, MA | $43,608 | $29,000 | 673,184 | 16 |
| 19 | Lexington, KY | $31,001 | $20,000 | 318,449 | 5 |
| 20 | San Francisco, CA | $47,909 | $33,000 | 870,887 | 18 |
| 21 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,513 | $37,000 | 351,792 | 40 |
| 22 | Las Vegas, NV | $37,221 | $26,000 | 632,912 | 5 |
| 23 | San Jose, CA | $47,719 | $33,000 | 1,025,350 | 13 |
| 24 | Washington, DC | $43,233 | $28,000 | 681,170 | 51 |
| 25 | Irvine, CA | $45,257 | $32,000 | 266,122 | 6 |
| 26 | Fremont, CA | $47,783 | $33,000 | 233,136 | 3 |
| 27 | Cleveland, OH | $30,501 | $20,000 | 385,809 | 7 |
| 28 | New York, NY | $39,940 | $26,000 | 8,537,673 | 128 |
| 29 | Seattle, WA | $42,828 | $31,000 | 704,352 | 14 |
| 30 | El Paso, TX | $33,824 | $23,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 31 | Louisville, KY | $30,990 | $20,000 | 597,337 | 6 |
| 32 | New Orleans, LA | $31,490 | $21,000 | 391,495 | 5 |
| 33 | Tucson, AZ | $33,073 | $23,000 | 530,706 | 5 |
| 34 | Reno, NV | $38,874 | $27,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 35 | Fresno, CA | $47,177 | $33,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 36 | Fort Worth, TX | $31,350 | $21,000 | 854,113 | 10 |
| 37 | Portland, OR | $38,846 | $28,000 | 639,863 | 6 |
| 38 | North Las Vegas, NV | $37,141 | $25,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 39 | Henderson, NV | $37,055 | $25,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 40 | San Antonio, TX | $31,938 | $21,000 | 1,492,510 | 9 |
| 41 | Minneapolis, MN | $36,339 | $26,000 | 413,651 | 2 |
| 42 | Phoenix, AZ | $33,661 | $23,000 | 1,615,017 | 10 |
| 43 | Oklahoma City, OK | $29,832 | $19,000 | 638,367 | 15 |
| 44 | Saint Paul, MN | $36,349 | $26,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 45 | Nashville, TN | $31,275 | $21,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 46 | Chicago, IL | $33,563 | $23,000 | 2,704,958 | 26 |
| 47 | Saint Louis, MO | $28,644 | $19,000 | 311,404 | 39 |
| 48 | Brookhaven, NY | $40,693 | $26,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 49 | Islip, NY | $40,491 | $26,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 50 | Oyster Bay, NY | $40,326 | $26,000 | 293,214 | - |
Highest paying cities for secretaries
| Rank | City | Avg. secretary salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $47,908 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $43,608 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $43,233 |
| 4 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,513 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $39,940 |
| 6 | Lake Oswego, OR | $38,919 |
| 7 | Neptune, NJ | $38,910 |
| 8 | Providence, RI | $38,735 |
| 9 | Nashua, NH | $36,688 |
| 10 | Baltimore, MD | $36,566 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $33,563 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $32,766 |
| 13 | Denver, CO | $32,172 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $31,768 |
| 15 | Memphis, TN | $31,752 |
| 16 | Albany, GA | $31,673 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $30,501 |
| 18 | Cedar Falls, IA | $30,233 |
| 19 | Miami, FL | $29,619 |
| 20 | Billings, MT | $29,443 |
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Updated January 8, 2025