Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a secretary
Quoted expert
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a secretary at State Farm Insurance Agency, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for secretaries that you can check out, before you begin your journey. In fact, our research shows that Massachusetts is the best state for secretaries in America. The best city in America for secretaries with the highest pay is San Francisco, CA.
The median salary for secretaries in Massachusetts is $43,694. Compare that to the median salary in Arkansas of $26,447, which ranked worst for secretaries, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that the Midwest is best for secretaries, and the Northeast is the worst. San Francisco, CA is the best city in the country for secretary jobs, where as Massachusetts is the best state in the country.
10 best states for secretaries in 2026
1. Massachusetts
Total secretary jobs: 1,160 Average annual salary: $43,694 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
2. Connecticut
Total secretary jobs: 355 Average annual salary: $43,775 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
3. Washington
Total secretary jobs: 765 Average annual salary: $42,318 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
4. New York
Total secretary jobs: 2,022 Average annual salary: $39,836 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
5. District of Columbia
Total secretary jobs: 202 Average annual salary: $43,237 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
6. Oregon
Total secretary jobs: 457 Average annual salary: $39,206 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
7. California
Total secretary jobs: 2,645 Average annual salary: $46,054 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
8. Alaska
Total secretary jobs: 143 Average annual salary: $38,418 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 1.74
9. Rhode Island
Total secretary jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $38,704 Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 0.94
10. Vermont
Total secretary jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $39,804 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
Secretary jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a secretary
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a secretary
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $43,694 | $30,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,160 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $43,775 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 355 |
| 3 | Washington | $42,318 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 765 |
| 4 | New York | $39,836 | $26,000 | 19,849,399 | 2,022 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $43,237 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 202 |
| 6 | Oregon | $39,206 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 457 |
| 7 | California | $46,054 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 2,645 |
| 8 | Alaska | $38,418 | $33,000 | 739,795 | 143 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $38,704 | $26,000 | 1,059,639 | 113 |
| 10 | Vermont | $39,804 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 68 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $42,499 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 99 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $38,948 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 854 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $36,248 | $25,000 | 1,342,795 | 183 |
| 14 | Nevada | $37,494 | $26,000 | 2,998,039 | 185 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $36,274 | $26,000 | 5,576,606 | 647 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $33,237 | $24,000 | 579,315 | 65 |
| 17 | Michigan | $32,769 | $22,000 | 9,962,311 | 824 |
| 18 | Arizona | $33,549 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 570 |
| 19 | Maryland | $36,194 | $23,000 | 6,052,177 | 652 |
| 20 | Idaho | $32,000 | $23,000 | 1,716,943 | 198 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $34,967 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 150 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $31,001 | $20,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,370 |
| 23 | Utah | $32,228 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 321 |
| 24 | Maine | $31,517 | $23,000 | 1,335,907 | 187 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $31,378 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 512 |
| 26 | Ohio | $29,643 | $20,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,128 |
| 27 | Texas | $31,680 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,827 |
| 28 | Alabama | $32,574 | $21,000 | 4,874,747 | 277 |
| 29 | Illinois | $33,454 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 952 |
| 30 | Virginia | $33,077 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 846 |
| 31 | Montana | $30,026 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 145 |
| 32 | Colorado | $32,271 | $22,000 | 5,607,154 | 540 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $30,644 | $21,000 | 5,795,483 | 544 |
| 34 | Florida | $29,514 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,930 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $30,395 | $20,000 | 1,815,857 | 120 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $30,984 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 290 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $31,545 | $21,000 | 4,684,333 | 190 |
| 38 | Georgia | $31,165 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 873 |
| 39 | Iowa | $29,992 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 311 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $30,581 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 799 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $30,300 | $20,000 | 2,984,100 | 140 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $29,843 | $22,000 | 755,393 | 78 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $27,624 | $19,000 | 1,920,076 | 209 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $29,556 | $19,000 | 3,930,864 | 234 |
| 45 | Missouri | $28,618 | $19,000 | 6,113,532 | 495 |
| 46 | Delaware | $28,446 | $18,000 | 961,939 | 103 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $27,579 | $18,000 | 5,024,369 | 379 |
| 48 | Kansas | $28,526 | $19,000 | 2,913,123 | 215 |
| 49 | Indiana | $25,204 | $17,000 | 6,666,818 | 558 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $24,640 | $18,000 | 869,666 | 86 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,447 | $17,000 | 3,004,279 | 161 |
Highest paying states for secretaries
| Rank | State | Avg. Secretary Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $43,694 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $43,775 |
| 3 | Washington | $42,318 |
| 4 | New York | $39,836 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $43,237 |
| 6 | Oregon | $39,206 |
| 7 | California | $46,054 |
| 8 | Alaska | $38,418 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $38,704 |
| 10 | Vermont | $39,804 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $42,499 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $38,948 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $36,248 |
| 14 | Nevada | $37,494 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $36,274 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $33,237 |
| 17 | Michigan | $32,769 |
| 18 | Arizona | $33,549 |
| 19 | Maryland | $36,194 |
| 20 | Idaho | $32,000 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $34,967 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $31,001 |
| 23 | Utah | $32,228 |
| 24 | Maine | $31,517 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $31,378 |
| 26 | Ohio | $29,643 |
| 27 | Texas | $31,680 |
| 28 | Alabama | $32,574 |
| 29 | Illinois | $33,454 |
| 30 | Virginia | $33,077 |
| 31 | Montana | $30,026 |
| 32 | Colorado | $32,271 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $30,644 |
| 34 | Florida | $29,514 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $30,395 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $30,984 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $31,545 |
| 38 | Georgia | $31,165 |
| 39 | Iowa | $29,992 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $30,581 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $30,300 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $29,843 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $27,624 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $29,556 |
| 45 | Missouri | $28,618 |
| 46 | Delaware | $28,446 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $27,579 |
| 48 | Kansas | $28,526 |
| 49 | Indiana | $25,204 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $24,640 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,447 |
Expert opinions on the best states for secretaries
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for secretarys to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mike Peterson Ph.D.
Department Chair and Associate Professor of English, Dixie State University
The great thing about a degree in English is that graduates can find work anywhere: teaching, freelance writing, technical writing, content production, editing, reporting-you name it. There are ample jobs in small towns and large cities in all of these areas. English degrees are also highly valued in a variety of jobs-such as sales, public relations, marketing, and paralegal work-because employers know these applicants, from day one, will have strong skills in writing, communication, critical thinking, and creative thinking.
Secretary best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common office and administrative questions.
Search for secretary jobs
Updated January 8, 2025