Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant Salary in Washington, DC
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $90,320 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $67,661 take-home, or $5,638 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,040
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,600
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,310
- District of Columbia income tax$4,709
- Take-home pay$67,661
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,960 | $29.31 | $48,645 | $4,054 |
| 25th percentile | $75,300 | $36.20 | $58,356 | $4,863 |
| Median (50th) | $90,320 | $43.42 | $67,661 | $5,638 |
| 75th percentile | $102,340 | $49.20 | $75,096 | $6,258 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,330 | $58.33 | $86,841 | $7,237 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $90,320 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant's $67,661 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,141 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.4× the national concentration of executive secretary and executive administrative assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #8 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 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $90,320 a year, or about $43.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,300 and $102,340.
What is a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $90,320 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $67,661 a year ($5,638 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,709 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $76,590. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,141 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #8 of 35 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median executive secretary and executive administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $77,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $76,400
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $64,250
- Information and Record Clerks, All Other — $61,760
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $60,990
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $59,290
- Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other — $57,160
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance — $57,160
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $55,920
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $53,660
- Office Clerks, General — $51,880
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $48,280