Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in New York, NY
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $75,920 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,737 take-home, or $4,895 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,872
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,707
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,101
- New York income tax$3,503
- Take-home pay$58,737
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $2,508 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $56,229 ($4,686 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. 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 →
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,830 | $23.00 | $38,626 | $3,219 |
| 25th percentile | $60,010 | $28.85 | $47,754 | $3,980 |
| Median (50th) | $75,920 | $36.50 | $58,737 | $4,895 |
| 75th percentile | $97,320 | $46.79 | $72,593 | $6,049 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,780 | $51.82 | $79,334 | $6,611 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,920 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median legal secretary and administrative assistant's $58,737 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,181 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant jobs are about as common in New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for legal secretaries and administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #3 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $77,220 | $59,559 | $54,700 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $79,410 | $60,507 | $52,336 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $75,920 | $58,737 | $52,181 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $62,000 | $51,997 | $46,788 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $62,690 | $49,637 | $45,847 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $59,490 | $47,180 | $45,543 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,480 | $45,828 | $44,686 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $61,780 | $49,261 | $44,027 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: legal secretaries and administrative assistants
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)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make in New York, NY?
The median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $75,920 a year, or about $36.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,010 and $97,320.
What is a legal secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $75,920 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $58,737 a year ($4,895 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,503 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a legal secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $55,570. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,181 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #3 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a legal secretary and administrative assistant afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median legal secretary and administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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