Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn a median $55,570 a year nationally. Office and Administrative Support Occupations
U.S. median
$55,570
$26.72 per hour
Range
$36,500 – $91,730
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
156,280
across the U.S.
▲2.6%
Pay trend: The median for legal secretaries and administrative assistants in the U.S. rose from $54,140 (May 2024) to $55,570 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).
What legal secretaries and administrative assistants do
Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.2% (declining)
- Openings per year
- 18,100
Employment of legal secretaries and administrative assistants is projected to shrink 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 18,100 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.
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$46,830
per year · effective tax rate 15.7%
$3,903Monthly
$1,951Twice a month
$1,801Every 2 weeks
$22.51Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,488
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,445
- Medicare (1.45%)$806
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$46,830
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,500 | $17.55 | $31,508 |
| 25th percentile | $44,450 | $21.37 | $37,896 |
| Median (50th) | $55,570 | $26.72 | $46,830 |
| 75th percentile | $71,970 | $34.60 | $59,461 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $91,730 | $44.10 | $73,362 |
Best cities for legal secretaries and administrative assistants (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $77,220 | $59,559 | $54,700 | 2,970 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $79,410 | $60,507 | $52,336 | 2,740 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $75,920 | $58,737 | $52,181 | 9,580 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $62,000 | $51,997 | $46,788 | 2,570 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $62,690 | $49,637 | $45,847 | 3,330 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $59,490 | $47,180 | $45,543 | 6,120 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,480 | $45,828 | $44,686 | 3,930 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $61,780 | $49,261 | $44,027 | 3,420 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | $62,620 | $49,874 | $43,917 | 14,930 |
| 10 | Tampa, FL | $47,510 | $40,354 | $39,998 | 2,430 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $46,150 | $39,262 | $39,807 | 4,210 |
| 12 | Miami, FL | $49,620 | $42,050 | $36,836 | 4,210 |
| 13 | Dallas, TX | $42,690 | $36,481 | $35,388 | 4,920 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Francisco, CA — $79,410
- Washington, DC — $77,220
- New York, NY — $75,920
- Boston, MA — $62,690
- Los Angeles, CA — $62,620
- Seattle, WA — $62,000
- San Diego, CA — $61,780
- Chicago, IL — $59,490
- Philadelphia, PA — $56,480
- Miami, FL — $49,620
- Tampa, FL — $47,510
- Houston, TX — $46,150
- Dallas, TX — $42,690
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,280 | −1.9% | $73,203 | $60,680 – $123,060 | 1,940 |
| New York | $72,230 | −2.9% | $56,340 | $42,340 – $107,780 | 9,800 |
| Connecticut | $66,220 | +7.8% | $53,321 | $51,670 – $93,930 | 1,090 |
| Delaware | $66,130 | +3.7% | $52,292 | $43,960 – $91,310 | 980 |
| Minnesota | $63,180 | +3.1% | $50,172 | $45,750 – $93,290 | 2,410 |
| New Jersey | $63,080 | +4.4% | $50,927 | $41,900 – $89,010 | 4,160 |
| Rhode Island | $63,020 | +1.7% | $51,070 | $42,580 – $93,560 | 390 |
| California | $62,860 | +2.5% | $50,050 | $40,710 – $106,580 | 27,470 |
| Massachusetts | $62,120 | +1.1% | $49,207 | $42,220 – $100,430 | 4,020 |
| Maryland | $61,440 | −2.6% | $48,992 | $45,940 – $84,390 | 1,670 |
| Alaska | $61,280 | +2.8% | $51,418 | $44,720 – $83,210 | 660 |
| Oregon | $59,610 | +7.2% | $45,690 | $40,490 – $95,260 | 1,590 |
| Colorado | $59,490 | +5.2% | $48,071 | $44,060 – $103,200 | 2,030 |
| Washington | $58,360 | −2.2% | $49,072 | $45,140 – $93,600 | 3,950 |
| New Mexico | $57,800 | +20.7% | $47,071 | $41,060 – $71,800 | 1,400 |
| Michigan | $56,870 | +1.5% | $45,709 | $36,860 – $78,510 | 3,580 |
| Nevada | $56,470 | +9.6% | $47,554 | $37,330 – $75,630 | 1,430 |
| Wisconsin | $55,410 | +13.1% | $45,045 | $46,020 – $75,860 | 1,210 |
| Virginia | $55,320 | +8.4% | $44,263 | $33,750 – $89,320 | 2,380 |
| Arizona | $55,120 | +14.9% | $45,300 | $41,410 – $78,470 | 2,600 |
| North Dakota | $53,540 | +0.1% | $45,199 | $38,490 – $68,510 | 360 |
| Utah | $52,860 | +14.8% | $43,240 | $36,090 – $80,510 | 940 |
| South Carolina | $52,840 | +33.2% | $42,624 | $34,190 – $67,740 | 2,280 |
| Illinois | $52,790 | −9.1% | $42,128 | $41,600 – $99,470 | 8,030 |
| New Hampshire | $51,830 | +3.9% | $43,825 | $37,490 – $81,060 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,430 | +4.3% | $41,925 | $35,900 – $77,420 | 6,230 |
| Ohio | $51,080 | +9.4% | $42,600 | $34,270 – $76,410 | 4,360 |
| Hawaii | $49,460 | −13.3% | $39,676 | $48,310 – $75,080 | 680 |
| Vermont | $49,090 | +4.3% | $40,413 | $46,580 – $62,920 | — |
| Florida | $48,510 | −9.8% | $41,158 | $34,420 – $81,340 | 10,920 |
| Georgia | $48,460 | −5.0% | $39,225 | $35,650 – $72,030 | 3,260 |
| Louisiana | $48,050 | +12.9% | $39,733 | $33,360 – $77,920 | 2,460 |
| Maine | $48,040 | −3.8% | $38,719 | $35,070 – $63,120 | 860 |
| South Dakota | $47,790 | +3.8% | $40,579 | $37,540 – $58,300 | 560 |
| Indiana | $47,740 | +1.0% | $39,160 | $36,920 – $77,450 | 2,670 |
| West Virginia | $46,960 | +0.0% | $38,527 | $27,990 – $60,590 | 1,200 |
| Wyoming | $46,960 | +10.3% | $39,912 | $44,140 – $59,720 | 280 |
| Iowa | $46,590 | — | $38,496 | $35,730 – $64,330 | 1,120 |
| Alabama | $45,950 | −0.9% | $37,068 | $29,290 – $67,340 | 1,840 |
| Oklahoma | $45,950 | −3.1% | $37,579 | $31,580 – $60,800 | 1,290 |
| Texas | $45,940 | −6.5% | $39,093 | $39,480 – $82,680 | 13,380 |
| Nebraska | $45,800 | −4.1% | $37,776 | $29,640 – $64,860 | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $45,340 | +2.4% | $38,611 | $30,850 – $71,330 | 2,980 |
| Mississippi | $45,140 | +3.0% | $37,376 | $24,410 – $63,160 | 820 |
| North Carolina | $43,720 | −0.3% | $36,073 | $31,190 – $71,640 | 3,780 |
| Idaho | $41,880 | −0.1% | $34,719 | $33,980 – $60,400 | 420 |
| Arkansas | $41,410 | +5.1% | $34,051 | $31,250 – $58,060 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $39,300 | +2.5% | $32,500 | $29,580 – $61,500 | 2,810 |
| Missouri | $38,560 | −19.1% | $32,288 | $31,090 – $76,640 | 3,310 |
| Kansas | $36,620 | −12.1% | $30,360 | $30,520 – $56,380 | 1,600 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 | High school diploma or equivalent | 0.0% |
| Desktop Publisher | $55,290 | Associate's degree | -14.5% |
| Communications Equipment Operators, All Other | $54,680 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.0% |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $54,210 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.6% |
| Financial Clerks, All Other | $53,830 | High school diploma or equivalent | 0.0% |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.7% |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk | $58,260 | High school diploma or equivalent | -15.9% |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | No formal educational credential | -5.3% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make?
The national median salary for legal secretaries and administrative assistants is $55,570 a year ($26.72 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,500 and the top 10% earn over $91,730. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays legal secretaries and administrative assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $99,280. After taxes and local prices, Washington, DC offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many legal secretaries and administrative assistants are there in the U.S.?
About 156,280 people work as legal secretaries and administrative assistants nationwide.