Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in Durham, NC
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median $46,860 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,471 take-home, or $3,206 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical secretary and administrative assistant salary in Durham, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,443
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,905
- Medicare (1.45%)$679
- North Carolina income tax$1,361
- Take-home pay$38,471
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant pay by experience in Durham, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,610 | $18.56 | $32,171 | $2,681 |
| 25th percentile | $39,990 | $19.23 | $33,225 | $2,769 |
| Median (50th) | $46,860 | $22.53 | $38,471 | $3,206 |
| 75th percentile | $49,830 | $23.96 | $40,739 | $3,395 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,010 | $28.37 | $47,749 | $3,979 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,860 buys in Durham, NC
Prices in Durham, NC are 2.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical secretary and administrative assistant's $38,471 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,428 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Durham, NC has 2.7× the national concentration of medical secretary and administrative assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for medical secretaries and administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Durham, NC ranks #19 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $69,350 | $54,380 | $49,247 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $60,350 | $50,671 | $45,595 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $57,730 | $46,302 | $43,407 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $61,330 | $48,932 | $42,324 |
| 5 | Winston, NC | $46,370 | $38,097 | $41,390 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $45,920 | $38,596 | $41,094 |
| 7 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,310 | $39,127 | $40,950 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $46,180 | $38,798 | $40,682 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $46,860 | $38,471 | $39,428 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 69 metros →
About the job: medical secretaries and administrative assistants
Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.
- 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
- +4.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant salaries elsewhere in North Carolina
- Winston, NC — $46,370
- Greensboro, NC — $44,500
- Raleigh, NC — $46,600
- Charlotte, NC — $45,650
- Asheville, NC — $41,520
- Wilmington, NC — $40,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical secretary and administrative assistant make in Durham, NC?
The median medical secretary and administrative assistant salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $46,860 a year, or about $22.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,990 and $49,830.
What is a medical secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in Durham, NC?
On the median $46,860 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $38,471 a year ($3,206 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,361 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Durham, NC a good place to work as a medical secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $45,930. Local prices are 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,428 would in a typical U.S. city. Durham, NC ranks #19 of 69 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical secretary and administrative assistant afford rent in Durham, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Durham, NC is $1,456 a month ($1,660 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median medical secretary and administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.