Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive pay in the United States
What this work is
Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.
Where the money actually goes furthest
District of Columbia pays the highest headline figure at $59,910. Adjusted for what things cost there it is worth $54,513 — less than Connecticut, where $57,210 is worth $55,216.
Pay by state
54 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $27.51/hr | $57,210 | $55,216 | $54,813 | 22,650 |
| Massachusetts | $27.86/hr | $57,940 | $54,784 | $55,043 | 37,750 |
| District of Columbia | $28.80/hr | $59,910 | $54,513 | $57,364 | 11,800 |
| Washington | $27.56/hr | $57,330 | $53,574 | $57,330 | 31,710 |
| North Dakota | $22.83/hr | $47,480 | $53,372 | $47,480 | 5,800 |
| Minnesota | $24.71/hr | $51,400 | $52,119 | $49,368 | 31,330 |
| Nebraska | $22.48/hr | $46,760 | $51,897 | $45,237 | 16,240 |
| Iowa | $21.71/hr | $45,150 | $51,447 | $43,989 | 12,830 |
| Maine | $23.95/hr | $49,820 | $51,334 | $47,697 | 6,740 |
| Rhode Island | $25.07/hr | $52,140 | $50,977 | $50,580 | 5,200 |
| Wisconsin | $22.94/hr | $47,710 | $50,701 | $46,279 | 28,100 |
| New Mexico | $22.33/hr | $46,450 | $50,374 | $45,283 | 25,430 |
| Oregon | $24.88/hr | $51,740 | $50,058 | $47,753 | 23,150 |
| California | $26.64/hr | $55,400 | $50,036 | $53,830 | 158,630 |
| Vermont | $23.52/hr | $48,920 | $49,938 | $47,515 | 3,360 |
| Tennessee | $22.03/hr | $45,810 | $49,863 | $45,810 | 34,580 |
| Ohio | $22.22/hr | $46,230 | $49,832 | $45,675 | 54,790 |
| Wyoming | $21.85/hr | $45,450 | $49,034 | $45,450 | 2,250 |
| Kentucky | $21.25/hr | $44,200 | $49,023 | $42,558 | 18,420 |
| North Carolina | $22.01/hr | $45,790 | $48,542 | $44,385 | 43,690 |
| Illinois | $23.23/hr | $48,310 | $48,329 | $46,056 | 74,280 |
| Delaware | $23.06/hr | $47,970 | $48,061 | $45,874 | 6,320 |
| Missouri | $20.93/hr | $43,540 | $47,940 | $42,350 | 33,180 |
| South Carolina | $21.58/hr | $44,880 | $47,872 | $43,680 | 30,180 |
| Michigan | $22.12/hr | $46,020 | $47,827 | $44,302 | 40,830 |
| Arizona | $23.05/hr | $47,940 | $47,616 | $47,106 | 31,220 |
| Utah | $22.62/hr | $47,050 | $47,592 | $44,909 | 14,870 |
| Indiana | $21.29/hr | $44,270 | $47,433 | $42,971 | 20,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $22.25/hr | $46,270 | $47,422 | $44,849 | 65,310 |
| Alaska | $23.33/hr | $48,530 | $47,411 | $48,530 | 5,390 |
| Colorado | $23.41/hr | $48,690 | $47,248 | $47,241 | 29,120 |
| Virginia | $22.89/hr | $47,620 | $47,101 | $45,628 | 31,580 |
| South Dakota | $20.05/hr | $41,700 | $47,070 | $41,700 | 6,120 |
| Kansas | $20.32/hr | $42,270 | $46,930 | $40,199 | 32,120 |
| Alabama | $20.01/hr | $41,630 | $46,870 | $39,738 | 45,050 |
| Nevada | $22.39/hr | $46,570 | $46,579 | $46,570 | 16,790 |
| Texas | $21.70/hr | $45,140 | $46,507 | $45,140 | 149,650 |
| Montana | $21.13/hr | $43,940 | $46,423 | $42,462 | 4,520 |
| Maryland | $23.41/hr | $48,680 | $46,379 | $46,548 | 54,890 |
| Hawaii | $24.44/hr | $50,830 | $46,230 | $48,403 | 7,020 |
| New Jersey | $24.16/hr | $50,260 | $46,190 | $48,975 | 65,960 |
| New Hampshire | $23.12/hr | $48,080 | $46,155 | $48,080 | 9,050 |
| New York | $23.85/hr | $49,600 | $45,959 | $47,477 | 122,490 |
| Idaho | $21.01/hr | $43,710 | $45,774 | $42,167 | 7,570 |
| Oklahoma | $19.07/hr | $39,660 | $45,150 | $38,266 | 20,120 |
| West Virginia | $19.41/hr | $40,370 | $45,106 | $39,188 | 8,820 |
| Florida | $22.07/hr | $45,900 | $44,386 | $45,900 | 104,000 |
| Louisiana | $18.65/hr | $38,790 | $43,974 | $38,001 | 28,040 |
| Arkansas | $18.09/hr | $37,630 | $43,282 | $36,339 | 8,590 |
| Georgia | $20.00/hr | $41,600 | $43,202 | $40,063 | 44,430 |
| Mississippi | $17.95/hr | $37,340 | $42,944 | $35,798 | 14,720 |
| Virgin Islands | $21.17/hr | $44,040 | Not published | Not published | 530 |
| Guam | $17.32/hr | $36,030 | Not published | Not published | 1,610 |
| Puerto Rico | $12.37/hr | $25,730 | Not published | Not published | 17,810 |
National median for comparison: $47,540. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$22.86/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
Drop your résumé — it never leaves your browser