Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Salary by State
Also called: Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
The national median pay for secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive is $47,540 a year. By state, it ranges from $37,340 in Mississippi to $59,910 in District of Columbia.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $33,280
- 25th percentile
- $38,830
- Median
- $47,540
- 75th percentile
- $58,000
- Top 10%
- $66,350
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 1,706,790 jobs.
Median pay in 50 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $59,910 | +26% | $39,480 | $84,290 | 11,800 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $57,940 | +22% | $41,510 | $78,400 | 37,750 |
| 3 | Washington | $57,330 | +21% | $43,250 | $74,750 | 31,710 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $57,210 | +20% | $40,700 | $78,300 | 22,650 |
| 5 | California | $55,400 | +17% | $38,060 | $78,170 | 158,630 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $52,140 | +10% | $38,000 | $72,800 | 5,200 |
| 7 | Oregon | $51,740 | +9% | $38,480 | $70,320 | 23,150 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $51,400 | +8% | $38,080 | $66,830 | 31,330 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $50,830 | +7% | $38,480 | $68,120 | 7,020 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $50,260 | +6% | $36,150 | $72,180 | 65,960 |
| 11 | Maine | $49,820 | +5% | $39,530 | $63,470 | 6,740 |
| 12 | New York | $49,600 | +4% | $37,330 | $64,840 | 122,490 |
| 13 | Vermont | $48,920 | +3% | $39,330 | $61,740 | 3,360 |
| 14 | Colorado | $48,690 | +2% | $37,300 | $64,960 | 29,120 |
| 15 | Maryland | $48,680 | +2% | $35,360 | $67,070 | 54,890 |
| 16 | Alaska | $48,530 | +2% | $35,360 | $64,620 | 5,390 |
| 17 | Illinois | $48,310 | +2% | $31,930 | $76,790 | 74,280 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $48,080 | +1% | $34,380 | $63,690 | 9,050 |
| 19 | Delaware | $47,970 | +1% | $35,930 | $64,170 | 6,320 |
| 20 | Arizona | $47,940 | +1% | $36,420 | $67,980 | 31,220 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $47,710 | 0% | $36,680 | $61,940 | 28,100 |
| 22 | Virginia | $47,620 | 0% | $34,040 | $66,700 | 31,580 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $47,480 | 0% | $34,920 | $60,780 | 5,800 |
| 24 | Utah | $47,050 | −1% | $31,600 | $63,850 | 14,870 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $46,760 | −2% | $35,900 | $62,130 | 16,240 |
| 26 | Nevada | $46,570 | −2% | $34,180 | $63,210 | 16,790 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $46,450 | −2% | $33,870 | $61,820 | 25,430 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $46,270 | −3% | $32,040 | $61,800 | 65,310 |
| 29 | Ohio | $46,230 | −3% | $32,130 | $63,150 | 54,790 |
| 30 | Michigan | $46,020 | −3% | $33,360 | $63,950 | 40,830 |
| 31 | Florida | $45,900 | −3% | $33,380 | $63,340 | 104,000 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $45,810 | −4% | $29,660 | $63,130 | 34,580 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $45,790 | −4% | $31,720 | $61,750 | 43,690 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $45,450 | −4% | $35,140 | $61,150 | 2,250 |
| 35 | Iowa | $45,150 | −5% | $33,880 | $60,760 | 12,830 |
| 36 | Texas | $45,140 | −5% | $29,810 | $63,020 | 149,650 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $44,880 | −6% | $29,100 | $61,660 | 30,180 |
| 38 | Indiana | $44,270 | −7% | $31,220 | $60,160 | 20,100 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $44,200 | −7% | $30,470 | $60,470 | 18,420 |
| 40 | Montana | $43,940 | −8% | $30,430 | $55,970 | 4,520 |
| 41 | Idaho | $43,710 | −8% | $29,890 | $58,820 | 7,570 |
| 42 | Missouri | $43,540 | −8% | $30,890 | $60,270 | 33,180 |
| 43 | Kansas | $42,270 | −11% | $30,340 | $58,690 | 32,120 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $41,700 | −12% | $31,200 | $51,480 | 6,120 |
| 45 | Alabama | $41,630 | −12% | $29,170 | $59,090 | 45,050 |
| 46 | Georgia | $41,600 | −12% | $26,330 | $62,090 | 44,430 |
| 47 | West Virginia | $40,370 | −15% | $28,820 | $57,970 | 8,820 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $39,660 | −17% | $27,110 | $56,630 | 20,120 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $38,790 | −18% | $26,680 | $56,340 | 28,040 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $37,630 | −21% | $28,540 | $55,060 | 8,590 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $37,340 | −21% | $25,770 | $57,870 | 14,720 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary questions
Which state pays secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $59,910 a year (+26% vs. the national median of $47,540). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $37,340 a year (−21% vs. national).
Where do most secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive work?
California has the most jobs, about 158,630, with a median of $55,400.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.