Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Medical secretaries and administrative assistants (SOC 43-6013) employed 961,610 people in May 2025. The median pay is $45,930 a year ($22.08 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,930 and the highest-paid 10% more than $60,530. BLS projects its employment to change by +4.8% between 2025 and 2035 (about 89,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Washington ($58,100), California ($54,490), Massachusetts ($50,290). Most jobs: California (115,050), Florida (96,000), Texas (78,740).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,930 | $17.27 |
| 25th percentile | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| Median | $45,930 | $22.08 |
| Mean | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| 75th percentile | $50,580 | $24.32 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $60,530 | $29.10 |
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 | 979,000 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 1,026,100 |
| Change in jobs | 47,100 |
| Percent change | +4.8% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 89,200 |
| Self-employed share | 0.2% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
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 | 16,580 | 1.27 | $36,930 | $29,890 | $50,900 | -20% | 35% |
| Alaska | 2,520 | 1.25 | $47,870 | $36,240 | $60,410 | +4% | 36% |
| Arizona | 18,090 | 0.90 | $45,820 | $33,860 | $60,110 | -0% | 44% |
| Arkansas | 2,190 | 0.27 | $37,000 | $31,690 | $47,960 | -19% | 32% |
| California | 115,050 | 1.02 | $54,490 | $40,650 | $76,020 | +19% | 46% |
| Colorado | 11,560 | 0.65 | $46,920 | $38,100 | $57,990 | +2% | 47% |
| Connecticut | 6,480 | 0.62 | $48,500 | $40,380 | $62,580 | +6% | 38% |
| Delaware | 4,510 | 1.51 | $44,500 | $36,400 | $57,980 | -3% | 41% |
| District of Columbia | 1,930 | 0.44 | $49,180 | $45,400 | $59,810 | +7% | 47% |
| Florida | 96,000 | 1.56 | $41,730 | $35,900 | $56,030 | -9% | 52% |
| Georgia | 39,380 | 1.30 | $43,160 | $34,460 | $58,290 | -6% | 42% |
| Hawaii | 2,160 | 0.56 | $49,920 | $38,750 | $59,360 | +9% | 47% |
| Idaho | 5,120 | 0.97 | $44,920 | $35,360 | $57,870 | -2% | 37% |
| Illinois | 27,560 | 0.73 | $46,670 | $37,440 | $58,320 | +2% | 34% |
| Indiana | 21,180 | 1.07 | $44,060 | $35,970 | $56,610 | -4% | 30% |
| Iowa | 10,560 | 1.10 | $40,980 | $35,240 | $50,130 | -11% | 29% |
| Kansas | 6,470 | 0.73 | $43,020 | $35,590 | $53,910 | -6% | 30% |
| Kentucky | 26,430 | 2.14 | $38,750 | $30,700 | $49,770 | -16% | 31% |
| Louisiana | 2,970 | 0.25 | $36,930 | $30,090 | $49,050 | -20% | 35% |
| Maine | 4,610 | 1.16 | $46,990 | $39,710 | $58,160 | +2% | 31% |
| Maryland | 17,290 | 1.01 | $47,850 | $38,070 | $61,750 | +4% | 43% |
| Massachusetts | 22,210 | 0.99 | $50,290 | $41,460 | $63,030 | +9% | 44% |
| Michigan | 27,960 | 1.03 | $41,100 | $36,330 | $50,840 | -11% | 34% |
| Minnesota | 16,860 | 0.92 | $50,030 | $43,390 | $61,490 | +9% | 31% |
| Missouri | 12,260 | 0.68 | $43,980 | $35,520 | $55,730 | -4% | 29% |
| Montana | 4,410 | 1.39 | $43,740 | $35,990 | $51,690 | -5% | 32% |
| Nebraska | 4,110 | 0.65 | $46,100 | $38,100 | $57,200 | +0% | 29% |
| Nevada | 7,030 | 0.73 | $46,990 | $36,770 | $58,360 | +2% | 44% |
| New Hampshire | 3,680 | 0.87 | $48,410 | $39,440 | $59,600 | +5% | 39% |
| New Jersey | 20,980 | 0.79 | $48,660 | $38,310 | $62,400 | +6% | 44% |
| New Mexico | 4,590 | 0.85 | $44,230 | $36,210 | $57,790 | -4% | 30% |
| New York | 57,720 | 0.96 | $47,710 | $38,430 | $61,160 | +4% | 41% |
| North Carolina | 56,840 | 1.86 | $44,190 | $35,880 | $55,290 | -4% | 36% |
| North Dakota | 1,120 | 0.42 | $45,390 | $37,440 | $58,140 | -1% | 26% |
| Ohio | 29,110 | 0.85 | $44,280 | $36,730 | $56,830 | -4% | 30% |
| Oklahoma | 8,430 | 0.80 | $38,330 | $30,730 | $48,690 | -17% | 33% |
| Oregon | 16,840 | 1.38 | $50,130 | $39,900 | $63,340 | +9% | 38% |
| Pennsylvania | 27,600 | 0.74 | $44,930 | $36,280 | $58,170 | -2% | 33% |
| Rhode Island | 2,350 | 0.76 | $46,860 | $40,630 | $61,330 | +2% | 36% |
| South Carolina | 15,630 | 1.10 | $40,170 | $34,780 | $56,890 | -13% | 38% |
| South Dakota | 80 | 0.03 | $45,810 | $39,270 | $53,120 | -0% | 26% |
| Tennessee | 41,810 | 2.06 | $39,940 | $31,960 | $57,670 | -13% | 39% |
| Texas | 78,740 | 0.90 | $42,910 | $33,090 | $56,570 | -7% | 41% |
| Utah | 5,260 | 0.49 | $44,330 | $34,510 | $57,080 | -3% | 43% |
| Vermont | 2,390 | 1.27 | $48,200 | $40,020 | $60,010 | +5% | 33% |
| Virginia | 27,600 | 1.09 | $46,180 | $37,180 | $58,350 | +1% | 43% |
| Washington | 10,960 | 0.50 | $58,100 | $44,980 | $73,480 | +26% | 38% |
| West Virginia | 1,550 | 0.36 | $38,430 | $30,910 | $50,690 | -16% | 28% |
| Wisconsin | 7,760 | 0.43 | $48,380 | $39,640 | $58,190 | +5% | 28% |
| Wyoming | 1,110 | 0.64 | $44,430 | $36,400 | $59,440 | -3% | 27% |
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 | 6,340 | $69,350 | $45,960 | $81,860 | 0.90 |
| Napa, CA | 510 | $61,830 | $47,400 | $76,850 | 1.07 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 13,660 | $61,330 | $48,130 | $84,100 | 0.93 |
| Vallejo, CA | 990 | $61,220 | $46,740 | $81,250 | 1.11 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 6,420 | $60,350 | $46,900 | $75,230 | 0.50 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 1,190 | $60,240 | $46,010 | $80,520 | 0.94 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 7,710 | $57,730 | $42,340 | $76,580 | 1.15 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 840 | $54,740 | $43,030 | $71,680 | 1.11 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 8,290 | $54,560 | $46,030 | $73,290 | 1.11 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 320 | $52,900 | $45,730 | $68,270 | 0.40 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 560 | $51,940 | $40,600 | $66,620 | 0.96 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 8,920 | $51,870 | $45,270 | $64,110 | 0.74 |
| Albany, OR | 310 | $51,650 | $41,580 | $63,820 | 1.05 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 11,260 | $51,650 | $43,640 | $71,010 | 1.18 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 490 | $51,610 | $42,020 | $73,750 | 0.63 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 16,330 | $51,600 | $43,810 | $64,060 | 0.98 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 40,380 | $51,410 | $38,650 | $74,220 | 1.04 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 350 | $50,780 | $43,920 | $71,310 | 0.43 |
| Bend, OR | 1,290 | $50,640 | $42,940 | $60,630 | 1.92 |
| Modesto, CA | 1,600 | $50,250 | $42,360 | $73,040 | 1.32 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 720 | $50,230 | $44,400 | $70,120 | 1.19 |
| Vineland, NJ | 300 | $50,230 | $35,990 | $59,130 | 0.78 |
| Iowa City, IA | 1,290 | $50,130 | $39,000 | $63,190 | 2.22 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,570 | $50,090 | $46,530 | $63,990 | 0.63 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 1,080 | $49,900 | $43,810 | $61,560 | 1.45 |
| Boulder, CO | 840 | $49,890 | $42,020 | $61,000 | 0.71 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 10,530 | $49,820 | $38,090 | $66,240 | 0.99 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 2,460 | $49,800 | $39,520 | $69,240 | 1.23 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 1,040 | $49,730 | $41,410 | $64,880 | 0.84 |
| Salinas, CA | 950 | $49,630 | $43,850 | $63,620 | 0.82 |
| Yuba City, CA | 310 | $49,600 | $39,290 | $61,600 | 0.98 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,580 | $49,460 | $38,390 | $59,640 | 0.57 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 300 | $49,430 | $38,650 | $63,230 | 1.59 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 52,640 | $49,230 | $38,950 | $63,560 | 0.90 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,090 | $49,200 | $44,220 | $60,620 | 0.69 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 920 | $49,180 | $37,120 | $62,370 | 0.62 |
| Mankato, MN | 350 | $49,160 | $39,630 | $59,770 | 1.01 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 530 | $48,930 | $39,490 | $62,170 | 1.50 |
| Salem, OR | 1,440 | $48,920 | $39,120 | $59,980 | 1.24 |
| New Haven, CT | 1,100 | $48,790 | $40,470 | $62,540 | 0.63 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2,220 | $48,560 | $39,640 | $59,130 | 0.44 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 1,020 | $48,410 | $39,060 | $58,260 | 0.83 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 1,560 | $48,380 | $39,360 | $63,970 | 1.60 |
| Madison, WI | 2,080 | $48,380 | $45,690 | $58,190 | 0.82 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 18,960 | $48,280 | $39,710 | $61,750 | 0.98 |
| Fresno, CA | 3,410 | $48,120 | $39,010 | $64,790 | 1.16 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 350 | $47,970 | $38,350 | $57,070 | 0.66 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 1,360 | $47,950 | $38,680 | $69,850 | 0.76 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 320 | $47,880 | $39,790 | $59,300 | 0.79 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 790 | $47,870 | $39,120 | $56,580 | 1.02 |
| Corvallis, OR | 430 | $47,850 | $38,430 | $61,520 | 1.79 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 5,980 | $47,810 | $39,110 | $60,600 | 0.60 |
| Springfield, MA | 1,030 | $47,780 | $38,060 | $58,910 | 0.82 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 500 | $47,750 | $37,270 | $59,700 | 1.12 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 310 | $47,720 | $38,800 | $59,330 | 1.06 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 8,640 | $47,680 | $39,050 | $60,660 | 1.03 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 20,020 | $47,680 | $38,970 | $60,680 | 0.72 |
| Bangor, ME | 650 | $47,640 | $38,630 | $58,580 | 1.46 |
| Visalia, CA | 900 | $47,560 | $38,240 | $62,380 | 0.85 |
| Redding, CA | 590 | $47,510 | $38,850 | $62,550 | 1.34 |
The median is $45,930 a year ($22.08 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,930 and the highest-paid tenth over $60,530 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
961,610 in May 2025, and BLS projects +4.8% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Washington, with a median of $58,100 (among states with published figures).