Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (SOC 43-6011) earn a median $76,590 a year ($36.82 an hour) in the United States, with 459,910 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants do
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants provide high-level administrative support. The work includes conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, along with routine functions like drafting correspondence, receiving visitors, setting up conference calls, and scheduling meetings. They manage and maintain executives' schedules, make travel arrangements, and answer and direct phone calls or take messages. Incoming correspondence, including faxes and email, is opened, sorted, and distributed, and routine inquiries get written responses. They greet visitors and decide whether they should be given access to particular individuals. Using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software, they prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents. Some run office services, among them records, department finances, budgets, personnel matters, and housekeeping, in support of executives, and some train and supervise lower-level clerical staff. Secretaries classified under 43-6012 through 43-6014, such as legal and medical secretaries, are excluded.
Typical entry: O*NET survey respondents most often report an associate degree as the education level for this occupation.
Also called: Administrative Aide, Administrative Assistant, Administrative Associate, Administrative Coordinator, Administrative Liaison.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $24.31 | $29.52 | $36.82 | $45.38 | $52.81 | $38.05 | 459,910 |
| Annual | $50,560 | $61,390 | $76,590 | $94,390 | $109,850 | $79,140 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $31.20 | $37.50 | $43.68 | $49.19 | $58.17 | $44.03 | 4,560 | 6.49 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $64,890 | $77,990 | $90,850 | $102,310 | $121,000 | $91,590 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $28.85 | $35.98 | $43.04 | $49.66 | $57.69 | $42.97 | 11,690 | 2.73 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $60,000 | $74,840 | $89,520 | $103,290 | $119,990 | $89,380 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $27.91 | $34.67 | $42.79 | $51.49 | $62.75 | $44.34 | 59,640 | 3.28 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $58,060 | $72,110 | $89,000 | $107,090 | $130,510 | $92,220 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $28.52 | $33.44 | $39.73 | $48.16 | $59.58 | $41.86 | 14,820 | 4.07 | 1.38 |
| Annual | $59,320 | $69,560 | $82,650 | $100,170 | $123,930 | $87,060 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $29.75 | $33.45 | $39.67 | $48.59 | $57.23 | $42.00 | 6,490 | 3.83 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $61,880 | $69,570 | $82,520 | $101,060 | $119,030 | $87,360 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $29.53 | $32.92 | $38.77 | $48.27 | $58.87 | $41.71 | 88,890 | 9.18 | 3.10 |
| Annual | $61,420 | $68,470 | $80,640 | $100,400 | $122,440 | $86,750 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $27.91 | $34.67 | $42.79 | $51.49 | $62.75 | $44.34 | 59,640 | 3.28 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $58,060 | $72,110 | $89,000 | $107,090 | $130,510 | $92,220 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $24.40 | $28.26 | $34.61 | $41.84 | $49.56 | $36.20 | 34,520 | 2.45 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $50,740 | $58,790 | $71,990 | $87,040 | $103,080 | $75,300 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $20.59 | $24.81 | $31.11 | $39.03 | $47.70 | $33.21 | 19,220 | 1.94 | 0.65 |
| Annual | $42,830 | $51,590 | $64,710 | $81,190 | $99,220 | $69,090 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $24.40 | $27.69 | $35.76 | $44.80 | $50.41 | $36.83 | 14,900 | 2.44 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $50,750 | $57,590 | $74,390 | $93,180 | $104,850 | $76,610 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $35.98 | $44.03 | $51.07 | $64.25 | $75.76 | $54.48 | 5,300 | 4.67 | 1.58 |
| Annual | $74,840 | $91,590 | $106,220 | $133,640 | $157,580 | $113,320 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $33.65 | $41.41 | $50.57 | $61.19 | $72.96 | $52.05 | 11,250 | 4.74 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $69,990 | $86,130 | $105,190 | $127,280 | $151,750 | $108,260 | ||||
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | Hourly | $32.97 | $38.64 | $48.52 | $54.81 | $64.15 | $48.56 | 1,710 | 4.24 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $68,580 | $80,380 | $100,930 | $114,000 | $133,430 | $101,010 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $29.30 | $36.78 | $44.34 | $54.81 | $63.77 | $45.41 | 490 | 2.39 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $60,940 | $76,510 | $92,240 | $114,010 | $132,650 | $94,460 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $29.31 | $36.20 | $43.42 | $49.20 | $58.33 | $43.32 | 12,960 | 4.13 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $60,960 | $75,300 | $90,320 | $102,340 | $121,330 | $90,110 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.44 | $35.62 | $40.31 | $49.05 | $60.08 | $43.27 | 76,950 | 8.11 | 2.74 |
| Annual | $63,320 | $74,080 | $83,840 | $102,020 | $124,970 | $90,000 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.09 | $32.69 | $39.83 | $48.48 | $58.75 | $41.73 | 20,850 | 3.32 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $58,430 | $68,000 | $82,850 | $100,850 | $122,200 | $86,790 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $29.31 | $36.20 | $43.42 | $49.20 | $58.33 | $43.32 | 12,960 | 4.13 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $60,960 | $75,300 | $90,320 | $102,340 | $121,330 | $90,110 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $29.52 | $35.88 | $40.99 | $48.81 | $61.03 | $43.26 | 11,290 | 4.17 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $61,400 | $74,630 | $85,260 | $101,520 | $126,940 | $89,990 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $33.65 | $41.41 | $50.57 | $61.19 | $72.96 | $52.05 | 11,250 | 4.74 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $69,990 | $86,130 | $105,190 | $127,280 | $151,750 | $108,260 | ||||
Top industries employing executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) employ 8.2% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants nationally (37,530 jobs) at a median $75,710 a year ($36.40 an hour), followed by Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (7.1%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 37,530 | 8.2% | $75,710 | $36.40 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities NAICS 523000 | 32,770 | 7.1% | $80,280 | $38.60 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 31,440 | 6.8% | $66,300 | $31.87 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 29,140 | 6.3% | $83,020 | $39.91 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 28,240 | 6.1% | $68,990 | $33.17 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (459,910). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $62,060 for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in May 2021 and $76,590 in May 2025, with employment of 466,910 and 459,910.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $62,060 | $29.84 | 466,910 |
| May 2022 | $65,980 | $31.72 | 475,240 |
| May 2023 | $70,310 | $33.80 | 483,570 |
| May 2024 | $74,260 | $35.70 | 472,770 |
| May 2025 | $76,590 | $36.82 | 459,910 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $43.68 | $90,850 | $64,890 | $121,000 | 4,560 | 6.49 | 2.20 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $43.04 | $89,520 | $60,000 | $119,990 | 11,690 | 2.73 | 0.92 |
| 3 | California profile | $42.79 | $89,000 | $58,060 | $130,510 | 59,640 | 3.28 | 1.11 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $39.73 | $82,650 | $59,320 | $123,930 | 14,820 | 4.07 | 1.38 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $39.67 | $82,520 | $61,880 | $119,030 | 6,490 | 3.83 | 1.29 |
| 6 | Hawaii profile | $38.81 | $80,710 | $52,100 | $117,020 | 1,440 | 2.29 | 0.77 |
| 7 | New York profile | $38.77 | $80,640 | $61,420 | $122,440 | 88,890 | 9.18 | 3.10 |
| 8 | Virginia profile | $38.62 | $80,330 | $51,370 | $119,990 | 10,360 | 2.52 | 0.85 |
| 9 | Washington profile | $38.10 | $79,250 | $59,810 | $106,720 | 11,560 | 3.26 | 1.10 |
| 10 | Delaware profile | $37.94 | $78,920 | $53,940 | $100,130 | 1,320 | 2.72 | 0.92 |
| 11 | Maryland profile | $37.76 | $78,540 | $54,430 | $108,480 | 13,960 | 5.05 | 1.71 |
| 12 | Minnesota profile | $37.73 | $78,470 | $58,870 | $101,760 | 7,970 | 2.70 | 0.91 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $37.41 | $77,820 | $47,310 | $97,960 | 950 | 1.90 | 0.64 |
| 14 | Oregon profile | $36.29 | $75,480 | $56,470 | $102,000 | 6,000 | 3.05 | 1.03 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania profile | $36.19 | $75,270 | $48,920 | $102,690 | 12,910 | 2.13 | 0.72 |
| 16 | Illinois profile | $35.76 | $74,390 | $50,750 | $104,850 | 14,900 | 2.44 | 0.83 |
| 17 | New Mexico profile | $35.53 | $73,890 | $52,000 | $92,710 | 2,800 | 3.21 | 1.09 |
| 18 | Texas profile | $34.61 | $71,990 | $50,740 | $103,080 | 34,520 | 2.45 | 0.83 |
| 19 | New Hampshire profile | $34.45 | $71,650 | $50,000 | $101,860 | 1,210 | 1.78 | 0.60 |
| 20 | Arizona profile | $34.03 | $70,770 | $50,710 | $103,080 | 6,490 | 2.00 | 0.68 |
| 21 | Vermont profile | $34.02 | $70,770 | $54,770 | $96,520 | 770 | 2.52 | 0.85 |
| 22 | North Carolina profile | $33.72 | $70,140 | $49,720 | $99,710 | 8,890 | 1.80 | 0.61 |
| 23 | Ohio profile | $33.46 | $69,600 | $47,480 | $99,330 | 10,940 | 1.97 | 0.67 |
| 24 | Alabama profile | $33.39 | $69,450 | $46,800 | $100,620 | 2,880 | 1.36 | 0.46 |
| 25 | Wisconsin profile | $33.14 | $68,920 | $51,250 | $93,190 | 4,480 | 1.52 | 0.51 |
| 26 | Georgia profile | $32.83 | $68,290 | $51,840 | $99,540 | 14,560 | 2.98 | 1.01 |
| 27 | Tennessee profile | $32.78 | $68,190 | $45,580 | $98,100 | 5,360 | 1.63 | 0.55 |
| 28 | Nevada profile | $32.61 | $67,830 | $36,630 | $100,450 | 2,670 | 1.72 | 0.58 |
| 29 | Michigan profile | $32.14 | $66,840 | $47,810 | $99,400 | 9,030 | 2.05 | 0.69 |
| 30 | Alaska profile | $31.83 | $66,210 | $50,290 | $92,610 | 1,320 | 4.05 | 1.37 |
| 31 | Nebraska profile | $31.83 | $66,210 | $48,570 | $94,690 | 1,860 | 1.82 | 0.61 |
| 32 | Colorado profile | $31.66 | $65,850 | $49,850 | $100,290 | 10,340 | 3.60 | 1.22 |
| 33 | Kansas profile | $31.19 | $64,860 | $48,160 | $90,970 | 2,750 | 1.91 | 0.65 |
| 34 | Florida profile | $31.11 | $64,710 | $42,830 | $99,220 | 19,220 | 1.94 | 0.65 |
| 35 | Maine profile | $30.82 | $64,100 | $49,850 | $88,160 | 2,320 | 3.62 | 1.22 |
| 36 | West Virginia profile | $30.68 | $63,820 | $40,670 | $95,090 | 860 | 1.23 | 0.41 |
| 37 | Kentucky profile | $30.01 | $62,410 | $44,800 | $92,740 | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.46 |
| 38 | Iowa profile | $29.97 | $62,340 | $45,230 | $83,600 | 4,150 | 2.66 | 0.90 |
| 39 | North Dakota profile | $29.46 | $61,270 | $46,350 | $86,170 | 540 | 1.25 | 0.42 |
| 40 | Utah profile | $29.39 | $61,130 | $40,410 | $91,580 | 5,440 | 3.14 | 1.06 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | $29.28 | $60,890 | $42,600 | $92,370 | 3,880 | 1.68 | 0.57 |
| 42 | Missouri profile | $29.00 | $60,320 | $42,340 | $95,030 | 8,500 | 2.90 | 0.98 |
| 43 | Idaho profile | $28.94 | $60,200 | $45,760 | $105,230 | 1,180 | 1.37 | 0.46 |
| 44 | Oklahoma profile | $28.81 | $59,910 | $41,760 | $86,560 | 2,810 | 1.65 | 0.56 |
| 45 | Montana profile | $28.73 | $59,750 | $48,830 | $80,080 | 550 | 1.07 | 0.36 |
| 46 | Indiana profile | $28.41 | $59,080 | $41,930 | $92,280 | 5,060 | 1.58 | 0.53 |
| 47 | Mississippi profile | $26.77 | $55,670 | $37,810 | $82,380 | 1,240 | 1.07 | 0.36 |
| 48 | South Dakota profile | $26.53 | $55,170 | $42,930 | $70,110 | 1,230 | 2.69 | 0.91 |
| 49 | Louisiana profile | $25.60 | $53,240 | $35,800 | $79,600 | 9,270 | 4.79 | 1.62 |
| 50 | Wyoming profile | $25.10 | $52,210 | $47,060 | $73,730 | 560 | 1.99 | 0.67 |
| 51 | Arkansas profile | $24.81 | $51,600 | $37,830 | $82,110 | 2,070 | 1.59 | 0.54 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (43-6010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 43-6011 Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 43-6011, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 43-6011.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.