Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant Salary in Chicago, IL
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $77,770 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,836 take-home, or $4,986 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,279
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,822
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,128
- Illinois income tax$3,705
- Take-home pay$59,836
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $54,440 | $26.17 | $43,373 | $3,614 |
| 25th percentile | $60,420 | $29.05 | $47,881 | $3,990 |
| Median (50th) | $77,770 | $37.39 | $59,836 | $4,986 |
| 75th percentile | $95,650 | $45.99 | $71,530 | $5,961 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,430 | $51.65 | $79,234 | $6,603 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,770 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant's $59,836 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,760 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #21 of 35 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $106,220 | $76,526 | $69,303 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $105,190 | $75,911 | $65,659 |
| 3 | Charlotte, NC | $79,900 | $62,360 | $64,059 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $75,880 | $60,907 | $63,798 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $80,230 | $65,272 | $63,315 |
| 6 | Nashville, TN | $73,700 | $60,678 | $62,984 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $74,850 | $61,487 | $62,342 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $90,320 | $67,661 | $62,141 |
| 21 | Chicago, IL | $77,770 | $59,836 | $57,760 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 35 metros →
About the job: executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- 0.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant make in Chicago, IL?
The median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $77,770 a year, or about $37.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,420 and $95,650.
What is a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $77,770 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $59,836 a year ($4,986 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,705 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $76,590. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,760 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #21 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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