Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (SOC 43-6011) employed 459,910 people in May 2025. The median pay is $76,590 a year ($36.82 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $50,560 and the highest-paid 10% more than $109,850. BLS projects its employment to change by +0.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 43,300 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent, with less than 5 years experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($90,850), New Jersey ($89,520), California ($89,000). Most jobs: New York (88,890), California (59,640), Texas (34,520).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,560 | $24.31 |
| 25th percentile | $61,390 | $29.51 |
| Median | $76,590 | $36.82 |
| Mean | $79,140 | $38.05 |
| 75th percentile | $94,390 | $45.38 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $109,850 | $52.81 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 489,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 489,200 |
| Change in jobs | -100 |
| Percent change | +0.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 43,300 |
| Self-employed share | 0.7% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | Less than 5 years |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 2,880 | 0.46 | $69,450 | $46,800 | $100,620 | -9% | 19% |
| Alaska | 1,320 | 1.37 | $66,210 | $50,290 | $92,610 | -14% | 26% |
| Arizona | 6,490 | 0.68 | $70,770 | $50,710 | $103,080 | -8% | 28% |
| Arkansas | 2,070 | 0.54 | $51,600 | $37,830 | $82,110 | -33% | 23% |
| California | 59,640 | 1.11 | $89,000 | $58,060 | $130,510 | +16% | 28% |
| Colorado | 10,340 | 1.22 | $65,850 | $49,850 | $100,290 | -14% | 33% |
| Connecticut | 6,490 | 1.29 | $82,520 | $61,880 | $119,030 | +8% | 23% |
| Delaware | 1,320 | 0.92 | $78,920 | $53,940 | $100,130 | +3% | 23% |
| District of Columbia | 4,560 | 2.20 | $90,850 | $64,890 | $121,000 | +19% | 26% |
| Florida | 19,220 | 0.65 | $64,710 | $42,830 | $99,220 | -16% | 34% |
| Georgia | 14,560 | 1.01 | $68,290 | $51,840 | $99,540 | -11% | 26% |
| Hawaii | 1,440 | 0.77 | $80,710 | $52,100 | $117,020 | +5% | 29% |
| Idaho | 1,180 | 0.46 | $60,200 | $45,760 | $105,230 | -21% | 28% |
| Illinois | 14,900 | 0.83 | $74,390 | $50,750 | $104,850 | -3% | 21% |
| Indiana | 5,060 | 0.53 | $59,080 | $41,930 | $92,280 | -23% | 22% |
| Iowa | 4,150 | 0.90 | $62,340 | $45,230 | $83,600 | -19% | 19% |
| Kansas | 2,750 | 0.65 | $64,860 | $48,160 | $90,970 | -15% | 20% |
| Kentucky | 2,700 | 0.46 | $62,410 | $44,800 | $92,740 | -19% | 19% |
| Louisiana | 9,270 | 1.62 | $53,240 | $35,800 | $79,600 | -30% | 24% |
| Maine | 2,320 | 1.22 | $64,100 | $49,850 | $88,160 | -16% | 23% |
| Maryland | 13,960 | 1.71 | $78,540 | $54,430 | $108,480 | +3% | 26% |
| Massachusetts | 14,820 | 1.38 | $82,650 | $59,320 | $123,930 | +8% | 27% |
| Michigan | 9,030 | 0.69 | $66,840 | $47,810 | $99,400 | -13% | 21% |
| Minnesota | 7,970 | 0.91 | $78,470 | $58,870 | $101,760 | +2% | 20% |
| Mississippi | 1,240 | 0.36 | $55,670 | $37,810 | $82,380 | -27% | 21% |
| Missouri | 8,500 | 0.98 | $60,320 | $42,340 | $95,030 | -21% | 21% |
| Montana | 550 | 0.36 | $59,750 | $48,830 | $80,080 | -22% | 24% |
| Nebraska | 1,860 | 0.61 | $66,210 | $48,570 | $94,690 | -14% | 20% |
| Nevada | 2,670 | 0.58 | $67,830 | $36,630 | $100,450 | -11% | 30% |
| New Hampshire | 1,210 | 0.60 | $71,650 | $50,000 | $101,860 | -6% | 26% |
| New Jersey | 11,690 | 0.92 | $89,520 | $60,000 | $119,990 | +17% | 24% |
| New Mexico | 2,800 | 1.09 | $73,890 | $52,000 | $92,710 | -4% | 18% |
| New York | 88,890 | 3.10 | $80,640 | $61,420 | $122,440 | +5% | 24% |
| North Carolina | 8,890 | 0.61 | $70,140 | $49,720 | $99,710 | -8% | 23% |
| North Dakota | 540 | 0.42 | $61,270 | $46,350 | $86,170 | -20% | 19% |
| Ohio | 10,940 | 0.67 | $69,600 | $47,480 | $99,330 | -9% | 19% |
| Oklahoma | 2,810 | 0.56 | $59,910 | $41,760 | $86,560 | -22% | 21% |
| Oregon | 6,000 | 1.03 | $75,480 | $56,470 | $102,000 | -1% | 25% |
| Pennsylvania | 12,910 | 0.72 | $75,270 | $48,920 | $102,690 | -2% | 20% |
| Rhode Island | 950 | 0.64 | $77,820 | $47,310 | $97,960 | +2% | 22% |
| South Carolina | 3,880 | 0.57 | $60,890 | $42,600 | $92,370 | -20% | 25% |
| South Dakota | 1,230 | 0.91 | $55,170 | $42,930 | $70,110 | -28% | 22% |
| Tennessee | 5,360 | 0.55 | $68,190 | $45,580 | $98,100 | -11% | 23% |
| Texas | 34,520 | 0.83 | $71,990 | $50,740 | $103,080 | -6% | 25% |
| Utah | 5,440 | 1.06 | $61,130 | $40,410 | $91,580 | -20% | 31% |
| Vermont | 770 | 0.85 | $70,770 | $54,770 | $96,520 | -8% | 22% |
| Virginia | 10,360 | 0.85 | $80,330 | $51,370 | $119,990 | +5% | 25% |
| Washington | 11,560 | 1.10 | $79,250 | $59,810 | $106,720 | +3% | 28% |
| West Virginia | 860 | 0.41 | $63,820 | $40,670 | $95,090 | -17% | 17% |
| Wisconsin | 4,480 | 0.51 | $68,920 | $51,250 | $93,190 | -10% | 20% |
| Wyoming | 560 | 0.67 | $52,210 | $47,060 | $73,730 | -32% | 23% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 5,300 | $106,220 | $74,840 | $157,580 | 1.58 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 11,250 | $105,190 | $69,990 | $151,750 | 1.60 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,710 | $100,930 | $68,580 | $133,430 | 1.43 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 490 | $92,240 | $60,940 | $132,650 | 0.81 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 12,960 | $90,320 | $60,960 | $121,330 | 1.40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3,530 | $87,910 | $59,700 | $108,970 | 1.10 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 11,290 | $85,260 | $61,400 | $126,940 | 1.41 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,510 | $84,540 | $56,430 | $121,770 | 0.99 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 76,950 | $83,840 | $63,320 | $124,970 | 2.74 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 20,850 | $82,850 | $58,430 | $122,200 | 1.12 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 460 | $82,740 | $58,960 | $120,950 | 0.77 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 740 | $82,250 | $56,510 | $124,710 | 0.77 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 430 | $81,640 | $58,480 | $117,620 | 0.91 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 600 | $81,410 | $54,140 | $95,680 | 3.30 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 7,370 | $80,860 | $64,170 | $106,770 | 1.19 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 1,250 | $80,700 | $56,150 | $118,800 | 1.76 |
| New Haven, CT | 800 | $80,620 | $59,970 | $104,560 | 0.96 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,040 | $80,600 | $52,100 | $117,020 | 0.79 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,750 | $80,370 | $61,210 | $103,690 | 1.55 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,290 | $80,230 | $56,430 | $116,160 | 0.69 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 340 | $80,090 | $59,670 | $100,160 | 0.88 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 6,150 | $80,030 | $61,090 | $103,520 | 1.06 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,620 | $79,900 | $53,620 | $105,370 | 0.65 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 310 | $79,810 | $57,810 | $116,370 | 1.12 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 310 | $79,790 | $59,310 | $117,260 | 0.87 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 720 | $79,510 | $41,650 | $105,050 | 1.87 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 7,150 | $79,490 | $57,480 | $102,690 | 0.83 |
| Salinas, CA | 360 | $79,390 | $53,870 | $115,430 | 0.66 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 500 | $79,200 | $58,490 | $109,630 | 0.58 |
| Boulder, CO | 880 | $79,170 | $49,850 | $112,190 | 1.55 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3,880 | $78,750 | $59,800 | $103,550 | 1.09 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 8,260 | $78,380 | $55,860 | $107,440 | 2.06 |
| Modesto, CA | 520 | $77,900 | $49,110 | $101,490 | 0.90 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 10,620 | $77,770 | $54,440 | $107,430 | 0.80 |
| Fresno, CA | 880 | $77,610 | $51,230 | $105,650 | 0.62 |
| Richmond, VA | 2,060 | $77,510 | $51,490 | $98,620 | 1.06 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,520 | $76,450 | $51,200 | $99,140 | 0.72 |
| Syracuse, NY | 2,120 | $76,350 | $56,000 | $106,350 | 2.39 |
| Birmingham, AL | 900 | $76,330 | $49,430 | $104,990 | 0.59 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 330 | $76,250 | $50,200 | $101,600 | 0.89 |
| Columbus, OH | 3,250 | $75,880 | $52,580 | $108,080 | 0.99 |
| Worcester, MA | 1,310 | $75,350 | $56,200 | $100,700 | 1.27 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,670 | $74,950 | $50,610 | $105,220 | 0.65 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 2,870 | $74,870 | $56,370 | $102,020 | 1.81 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 7,390 | $74,850 | $51,480 | $104,980 | 0.76 |
| Kingston, NY | 370 | $74,820 | $57,150 | $99,350 | 2.10 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 3,400 | $74,730 | $56,400 | $102,120 | 2.56 |
| Huntsville, AL | 440 | $74,710 | $48,040 | $103,660 | 0.56 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 430 | $74,660 | $51,830 | $104,960 | 0.66 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 320 | $74,370 | $53,680 | $109,730 | 0.95 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 1,710 | $74,260 | $57,190 | $102,510 | 2.14 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,420 | $74,240 | $52,250 | $94,750 | 0.58 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 5,000 | $74,010 | $53,930 | $104,790 | 0.71 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,430 | $73,700 | $49,420 | $101,990 | 0.75 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,910 | $73,700 | $50,120 | $99,150 | 0.57 |
| Springfield, IL | 830 | $73,510 | $54,320 | $103,190 | 2.80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4,140 | $73,290 | $50,800 | $103,860 | 0.81 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 300 | $73,240 | $58,480 | $99,440 | 0.86 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,090 | $73,180 | $45,640 | $102,180 | 0.61 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 1,160 | $73,160 | $54,660 | $95,000 | 0.97 |
The median is $76,590 a year ($36.82 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $50,560 and the highest-paid tenth over $109,850 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
459,910 in May 2025, and BLS projects +0.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $90,850 (among states with published figures).