Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants earn a median of $76,590 per year ($36.82/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 0.0% through 2035, with about 43,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- Commonly called: Executive Assistant
- SOC 43-6011
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 15, 2026
At a glance
Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant in four numbers
- Median pay
- $76,590a year, or $36.82/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $51KTop 10% $110K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- 0.0%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career0%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career 0% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 43,300489,300 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025489.3K
- Projected 2035489.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 489.3K Projected 2035 489.2K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school24.2%
- Some college20.9%
- Associate's33.8%
- Bachelor's11.9%
- Post-master’s certificate3.4%
- Professional degree2.9%
Highest education held by executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants Segment Value High school 24.2% Some college 20.9% Associate's 33.8% Bachelor's 11.9% Post-master’s certificate 3.4% Professional degree 2.9%
Also advertised as: Administrative Aide, Administrative Assistant, Administrative Associate, Administrative Coordinator, Administrative Secretary, Administrative Specialist.
Pay
How much do executive assistants make?
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants earn a median of $76,590 a year ($36.82 an hour, or about $6,380 a month); the lowest-paid 10% earn less than $50,560 and the top 10% more than $109,850 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The best-paying state is District of Columbia, with a median of $90,850. See Executive assistant salary in District of Columbia and every other state. By city, pay is highest around San Jose ($113,320 average): salary in every city.
Every executive secretary and executive administrative assistant in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$76,590
Middle half earn $61,390 to $94,390
- 10th
- $50,560
- 25th
- $61,390
- 75th
- $94,390
- 90th
- $109,850
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $50,560 |
| 25th | $61,390 |
| Median | $76,590 |
| 75th | $94,390 |
| 90th | $109,850 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $76,590
- Median hourly wage
- $36.82/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $79,140
- People employed
- 459,910
Versus all US occupations
At $76,590, Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants earn 50% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $25,610 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
Inside the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230, this is 56% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $109,850 or more while the bottom 10% earn $50,560, a gap of 2.2×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 52% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $90,850, and still leads at $82,665 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay executive assistants the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $90,850 | $82,665 | 4,560 |
| 2New Jersey | $89,520 | $82,276 | 11,690 |
| 3California | $89,000 | $80,383 | 59,640 |
| 4Massachusetts | $82,650 | $78,151 | 14,820 |
| 5Connecticut | $82,520 | $79,645 | 6,490 |
| 6Hawaii | $80,710 | $73,405 | 1,440 |
| 7New York | $80,640 | $74,721 | 88,890 |
| 8Virginia | $80,330 | $79,453 | 10,360 |
| 9Washington | $79,250 | $74,056 | 11,560 |
| 10Delaware | $78,920 | $79,072 | 1,320 |
Job outlook
Is executive assistant a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. 0.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | 0% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants to change 0.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 43,300 openings are projected each year, 8.8% of the 489,300 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of secretaries and administrative assistants is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of secretaries and administrative assistants varies by occupation (see table).
Employment growth is projected for medical secretaries, primarily due to the growth of the healthcare industry. More medical secretaries will be needed to handle administrative tasks and to ensure that operations in healthcare facilities run smoothly.
AI exposure: very high
BLS places this occupation in its very high relative AI exposure category, among the occupations most exposed to current AI.
Getting in
How to become an executive assistant
High school graduates who are comfortable using word processing and spreadsheet programs typically qualify for entry-level positions. Although workers typically learn their duties over several weeks on the job, legal and medical secretaries and administrative assistants may need additional training to learn industry-specific terminology. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants typically need several years of related work experience.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants.
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree33.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)24.2%
- Some College Courses20.9%
- Bachelor's Degree11.9%
- Post-Master's Certificate3.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 33.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 24.2% |
| Some College Courses | 20.9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 11.9% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 3.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an executive assistant do?
Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.
Secretaries and administrative assistants do routine clerical and organizational tasks. They arrange files, prepare documents, schedule appointments, and support other staff.
Day-to-day tasks
- Answer phone calls and direct calls to appropriate parties or take messages.
- Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.
- Perform general office duties, such as ordering supplies, maintaining records management database systems, and performing basic bookkeeping work.
- Prepare responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries.
- Open, sort, and distribute incoming correspondence, including faxes and email.
- Prepare agendas and make arrangements, such as coordinating catering for luncheons, for committee, board, and other meetings.
- File and retrieve corporate documents, records, and reports.
- Read and analyze incoming memos, submissions, and reports to determine their significance and plan their distribution.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most secretaries and administrative assistants work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Writing3.8
- Critical Thinking3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Learning Strategies2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Service Orientation3.8
- Coordination3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Negotiation3.0
- Persuasion2.9
- Instructing2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Service Orientation | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Instructing | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
The workforce
Who works as an executive assistant?
Women make up 93.5% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation.
34.9% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure.
The median worker is 47.6 years old (all workers: 42.1).
- Women
- 93.5%All workers 47.1% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Median age
- 47.6All workers 42.1 · BLS CPS, 2025
- Aged 55+
- 34.9%All workers 23.2% · BLS CPS, 2025
- Employed (CPS)
- 249,000BLS CPS, 2025
| Group | Share of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants | All employed people |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 93.5% | 47.1% |
| White | 79.3% | 75.7% |
| Black or African American | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| Asian | 4.8% | 7.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.3% | 20.0% |
| Aged 55 and over | 34.9% | 23.2% |
| Aged 16 to 24 | 0.8% | 12.2% |
Current Population Survey annual averages, 2025 (BLS tables 11 and 11b). Race groups can overlap with Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, so they do not sum to 100%.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an executive assistant?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional6.4
- Enterprising5.5
- Social3.9
- Investigative1.9
- Artistic1.4
- Realistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant
O*NET related occupations
- Office and Administrative Support
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Most earn $33K to $66K
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More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Customer Service Representative$44,770
- Teller$43,030
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant appears on
Questions
Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant: frequently asked questions
How much do executive assistants make?
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants earn a median of $76,590 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 50% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $36.82/hr. The middle half earn between $61,390 and $94,390. The top 10% earn $109,850 or more.
How much do executive assistants make an hour?
The median hourly wage for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants is $36.82 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $76,590 annual median works out to about $6,380 a month before tax.
What is the starting salary for an executive assistant?
BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn less than $50,560 a year and the bottom quarter less than $61,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.
Do executive assistants make $100k?
A minority do. $100,000 sits between the 75th percentile ($94,390) and the 90th ($109,850), so roughly 10% to 25% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn more than that (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No state's median reaches $100,000; the highest is District of Columbia at $90,850.
Which states pay executive assistants the most?
The highest state medians for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants are District of Columbia ($90,850), New Jersey ($89,520), California ($89,000) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What kind of executive assistant earns the most?
BLS does not split executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $109,850, against a median of $76,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are District of Columbia ($90,850), New Jersey ($89,520), California ($89,000).
Do you need a degree to become an executive assistant?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 33.8% hold associate's degree or other 2-year degree.
How long does it take to become an executive assistant?
BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for executive assistants is a high school diploma or equivalent, plus less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation. O*NET classes the work as needing medium preparation.
Is executive assistant a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.0% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 43,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an executive assistant do?
Secretaries and administrative assistants do routine clerical and organizational tasks. A core O*NET task: answer phone calls and direct calls to appropriate parties or take messages. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Cloud-based data access and sharing software, Data base user interface and query software.
Do executive assistants work 40 hours a week?
Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 27% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants usually work more than 40 hours a week, 66% work exactly 40 and 7% work fewer. 93% say their schedule is regular and 7% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.
What personality type suits an executive assistant?
O*NET scores Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESFJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.
What percentage of executive assistants are women?
Women make up 93.5% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation. 34.9% are 55 or older (23.2% across all jobs), so a larger-than-usual share of the workforce reaches retirement age over the next decade. Those exits are counted in the BLS openings figure. The median worker is 47.6 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.