Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$44,583
Highest Paying City
San Jose
$64,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Do?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants perform essential clerical and administrative tasks that support the smooth operation of offices, businesses, and government agencies. Their attention to detail and organizational skills are highly valued.
Most work in comfortable office settings during standard business hours. Some positions may require overtime during busy periods. Customer-facing roles involve regular phone and in-person interactions.
Key Skills for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Education Requirements
High school diploma; associate's degree or certifications for specialized roles
Many positions require a high school diploma with on-the-job training. Specialized roles like medical or legal secretaries may require postsecondary education or certification in their respective fields.
Career Outlook
Employment is projected to grow slower than average overall, though some specialized roles like medical secretaries continue to see strong demand.
How to Increase Your Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary
- 1.Learn industry-specific software and database systems
- 2.Develop strong organizational and time management skills
- 3.Pursue certifications such as the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP)
- 4.Specialize in a high-demand area like medical or legal administration
- 5.Develop bookkeeping or accounting skills for expanded responsibilities
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $64,000 | $71,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Francisco, CA | $61,000 | $63,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $58,000 | $59,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $56,000 | $58,000 | $36,000 - $71,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $55,000 | $58,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $54,000 | $57,000 | $35,000 - $68,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $52,000 | $53,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $52,000 | $58,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $50,000 | $56,000 | $32,000 - $63,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $50,000 | $52,000 | $32,000 - $63,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $50,000 | $53,000 | $32,000 - $63,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | $54,000 | $32,000 - $63,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $49,000 | $53,000 | $32,000 - $62,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $48,000 | $50,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $48,000 | $50,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $48,000 | $52,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $48,000 | $53,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $47,000 | $51,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $47,000 | $49,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $47,000 | $49,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $47,000 | $51,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $47,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $46,000 | $50,000 | $30,000 - $58,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $44,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $54,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $44,000 | $46,000 | $31,000 - $54,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $44,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $54,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $43,000 | $44,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $43,000 | $46,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $43,000 | $46,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $43,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $43,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $43,000 | $47,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $43,000 | $48,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $43,000 | $46,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $43,000 | $46,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $42,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $42,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $42,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $42,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $42,000 | $45,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $42,000 | $45,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $42,000 | $47,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $42,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $41,000 | $42,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $41,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $41,000 | $45,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $41,000 | $45,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $40,000 | $43,000 | $28,000 - $49,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $40,000 | $44,000 | $28,000 - $49,000 | USD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $40,000 | $44,000 | $28,000 - $49,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $39,000 | $43,000 | $27,000 - $48,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $39,000 | $43,000 | $27,000 - $48,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $39,000 | $40,000 | $27,000 - $48,000 | USD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $39,000 | $43,000 | $27,000 - $48,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $38,000 | $39,000 | $27,000 - $47,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $36,000 | $37,000 | $25,000 - $44,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $34,000 | $35,000 | $24,000 - $42,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $33,000 | $34,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $33,000 | $34,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $32,000 | $34,000 | $22,000 - $39,000 | CAD | Apply |