Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in Washington, DC
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $77,220 a year — 39% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,559 take-home, or $4,963 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,158
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,788
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,120
- District of Columbia income tax$3,595
- Take-home pay$59,559
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 →
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,920 | $25.44 | $42,692 | $3,558 |
| 25th percentile | $62,470 | $30.03 | $49,761 | $4,147 |
| Median (50th) | $77,220 | $37.13 | $59,559 | $4,963 |
| 75th percentile | $103,810 | $49.91 | $76,005 | $6,334 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,210 | $58.27 | $86,767 | $7,231 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,220 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 legal secretary and administrative assistant's $59,559 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,700 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 Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for legal secretaries and administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #1 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 Washington, DC?
The median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $77,220 a year, or about $37.13 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,470 and $103,810.
What is a legal secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $77,220 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $59,559 a year ($4,963 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,595 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a legal secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 39% above the national median of $55,570. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,700 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #1 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a legal secretary and 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) — 40% of a median legal secretary and administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
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- 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