Updated November 7, 2026 · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant Salary

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants earn a median $76,590 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations

U.S. median

$76,590

$36.82 per hour

Range

$50,560 – $109,850

10th to 90th percentile

Employed

459,910

across the U.S.

▲3.1%

Pay trend: The median for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in the U.S. rose from $74,260 (May 2024) to $76,590 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 0.7%.

What executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants do

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)
Openings per year: 43,300

Employment of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants is projected to grow 0.0% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 43,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant

Pay

Per

State

Filing status

City income tax

Deductions, kids & local tax

401(k) % of pay

Health/HSA $ per year

Children under 17

Other local tax %

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay

$62,711

per year · effective tax rate 18.1%

$5,226Monthly

$2,613Twice a month

$2,412Every 2 weeks

$30.15Hourly

Federal income tax$8,020
Social Security (6.2%)$4,749
Medicare (1.45%)$1,111
Texas income tax$0
Take-home pay$62,711

Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state

Pay by experience

Percentile	Salary	Hourly	Take-home (no state tax)
10th percentile (entry level)	$50,560	$24.31	$42,805
25th percentile	$61,390	$29.51	$51,507
Median (50th)	$76,590	$36.82	$62,711
75th percentile	$94,390	$45.38	$75,233
90th percentile (top earners)	$109,850	$52.81	$86,109

Best cities for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (after tax & cost of living)

#	Metro area	Median	Take-home	Real value*	Jobs
1	San Jose, CA	$106,220	$76,526	$69,303	5,300
2	San Francisco, CA	$105,190	$75,911	$65,659	11,250
3	Charlotte, NC	$79,900	$62,360	$64,059	2,620
4	Columbus, OH	$75,880	$60,907	$63,798	3,250
5	Dallas, TX	$80,230	$65,272	$63,315	8,290
6	Nashville, TN	$73,700	$60,678	$62,984	2,430
7	Houston, TX	$74,850	$61,487	$62,342	7,390
8	Washington, DC	$90,320	$67,661	$62,141	12,960
9	Sacramento, CA	$87,910	$65,586	$61,485	3,530
10	Hartford, CT	$80,370	$62,525	$60,854	2,750
11	Philadelphia, PA	$79,490	$62,311	$60,759	7,150
12	Buffalo, NY	$74,870	$58,055	$60,572	2,870
13	Boston, MA	$85,260	$64,767	$59,822	11,290
14	Seattle, WA	$80,860	$65,715	$59,132	7,370
15	Austin, TX	$69,600	$57,794	$58,933	8,560
16	Detroit, MI	$74,950	$58,623	$58,449	3,670
17	Minneapolis, MN	$80,030	$61,212	$58,397	6,150
18	Albany, NY	$74,730	$57,964	$58,217	3,400
19	Rochester, NY	$72,210	$56,327	$58,049	2,830
20	Baltimore, MD	$78,380	$60,611	$58,008	8,260
21	Chicago, IL	$77,770	$59,836	$57,760	10,620
22	Phoenix, AZ	$74,010	$59,255	$57,353	5,000
23	San Diego, CA	$84,540	$63,572	$56,818	4,510
24	New York, NY	$83,840	$63,881	$56,751	76,950
25	Atlanta, GA	$72,090	$56,427	$56,394	10,060

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

San Jose, CA — $106,220
San Francisco, CA — $105,190
Washington, DC — $90,320
Sacramento, CA — $87,910
Boston, MA — $85,260
San Diego, CA — $84,540
New York, NY — $83,840
Los Angeles, CA — $82,850
Seattle, WA — $80,860
Hartford, CT — $80,370
Dallas, TX — $80,230
Minneapolis, MN — $80,030
Charlotte, NC — $79,900
Philadelphia, PA — $79,490
Portland, OR — $78,750

Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant salary by state

State	Median	1-yr change	Take-home	Range	Jobs
District of Columbia	$90,850	+6.2%	$67,989	$64,890 – $121,000	4,560
New Jersey	$89,520	+6.9%	$68,295	$60,000 – $119,990	11,690
California	$89,000	+5.0%	$66,237	$58,060 – $130,510	59,640
Massachusetts	$82,650	+4.1%	$63,062	$59,320 – $123,930	14,820
Connecticut	$82,520	+2.5%	$63,919	$61,880 – $119,030	6,490
Hawaii	$80,710	+4.1%	$61,006	$52,100 – $117,020	1,440
New York	$80,640	+0.2%	$61,803	$61,420 – $122,440	88,890
Virginia	$80,330	+3.5%	$61,537	$51,370 – $119,990	10,360
Washington	$79,250	+1.4%	$64,582	$59,810 – $106,720	11,560
Delaware	$78,920	+0.6%	$60,483	$53,940 – $100,130	1,320
Maryland	$78,540	+3.7%	$60,716	$54,430 – $108,480	13,960
Minnesota	$78,470	+2.1%	$60,221	$58,870 – $101,760	7,970
Rhode Island	$77,820	+12.2%	$61,275	$47,310 – $97,960	950
Oregon	$75,480	+7.4%	$56,155	$56,470 – $102,000	6,000
Pennsylvania	$75,270	+7.7%	$59,472	$48,920 – $102,690	12,910
Illinois	$74,390	−0.0%	$57,626	$50,750 – $104,850	14,900
New Mexico	$73,890	+2.7%	$58,504	$52,000 – $92,710	2,800
Texas	$71,990	+3.5%	$59,475	$50,740 – $103,080	34,520
New Hampshire	$71,650	+2.6%	$59,236	$50,000 – $101,860	1,210
Arizona	$70,770	+4.2%	$57,056	$50,710 – $103,080	6,490
Vermont	$70,770	+4.9%	$56,406	$54,770 – $96,520	770
North Carolina	$70,140	+6.3%	$55,884	$49,720 – $99,710	8,890
Ohio	$69,600	+5.0%	$56,662	$47,480 – $99,330	10,940
Alabama	$69,450	+1.7%	$54,481	$46,800 – $100,620	2,880
Wisconsin	$68,920	+4.0%	$55,043	$51,250 – $93,190	4,480
Georgia	$68,290	+0.4%	$53,951	$51,840 – $99,540	14,560
Tennessee	$68,190	+3.9%	$56,802	$45,580 – $98,100	5,360
Nevada	$67,830	+5.7%	$56,548	$36,630 – $100,450	2,670
Michigan	$66,840	+2.2%	$53,262	$47,810 – $99,400	9,030
Alaska	$66,210	+3.9%	$55,380	$50,290 – $92,610	1,320
Nebraska	$66,210	+3.3%	$53,247	$48,570 – $94,690	1,860
Colorado	$65,850	+1.9%	$52,901	$49,850 – $100,290	10,340
Kansas	$64,860	+1.5%	$51,476	$48,160 – $90,970	2,750
Florida	$64,710	−1.0%	$54,174	$42,830 – $99,220	19,220
Maine	$64,100	+4.3%	$50,539	$49,850 – $88,160	2,320
West Virginia	$63,820	+11.4%	$51,318	$40,670 – $95,090	860
Kentucky	$62,410	+5.8%	$50,260	$44,800 – $92,740	2,700
Iowa	$62,340	+4.9%	$50,553	$45,230 – $83,600	4,150
North Dakota	$61,270	+1.8%	$51,410	$46,350 – $86,170	540
Utah	$61,130	+9.4%	$49,513	$40,410 – $91,580	5,440
South Carolina	$60,890	+0.4%	$48,609	$42,600 – $92,370	3,880
Missouri	$60,320	+5.9%	$48,749	$42,340 – $95,030	8,500
Idaho	$60,200	+1.9%	$48,468	$45,760 – $105,230	1,180
Oklahoma	$59,910	+5.7%	$48,167	$41,760 – $86,560	2,810
Montana	$59,750	−0.5%	$48,138	$48,830 – $80,080	550
Indiana	$59,080	+1.3%	$47,937	$41,930 – $92,280	5,060
Mississippi	$55,670	+2.9%	$45,416	$37,810 – $82,380	1,240
South Dakota	$55,170	+9.6%	$46,509	$42,930 – $70,110	1,230
Louisiana	$53,240	+8.0%	$43,747	$35,800 – $79,600	9,270
Wyoming	$52,210	+1.3%	$44,131	$47,060 – $73,730	560
Arkansas	$51,600	−2.1%	$41,841	$37,830 – $82,110	2,070

Related jobs

Job	Median salary	Education	Growth 2025–35
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant	$55,570	High school diploma or equivalent	-5.2%
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	$47,540	High school diploma or equivalent	-6.0%
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant	$45,930	High school diploma or equivalent	+4.8%
First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers	$69,500	High school diploma or equivalent	+0.1%
Brokerage Clerk	$65,750	High school diploma or equivalent	-7.6%
Postal Service Clerk	$62,130	No formal educational credential	-0.3%
Postal Service Mail Carrier	$60,550	No formal educational credential	-0.3%
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	$59,650	High school diploma or equivalent	-1.3%
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators	$58,470	No formal educational credential	-5.3%
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk	$58,260	High school diploma or equivalent	-15.9%

Frequently asked questions

How much does a executive secretary and executive administrative assistant make?

The national median salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants is $76,590 a year ($36.82 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,560 and the top 10% earn over $109,850. Source: BLS, May 2025.

Which state pays executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $90,850. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.

How many executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants are there in the U.S.?

About 459,910 people work as executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants nationwide.