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Administrive Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does an Administrive Assistant make in the United States? As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Administrive Assistant in the United States is $45,856 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

However, an Administrive Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here's a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $54,621
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $41,745 to $50,444
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,002
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Check out Administrive Assistant Job Openings in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Administrive Assistant Salaries

An Administrive Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Administrive Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Administrive Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $43,806
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $44,772
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $46,621
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $48,214
  • Expert (over 8 years): $48,405
Job RoleYears of ExperienceAverage Salary
Entry Level Administrive Assistant less than 1 year $43,806
Early Career Level Administrive Assistant 1-2 years $44,772
Mid-Level Level Administrive Assistant 2-4 years $46,621
Senior-Level Level Administrive Assistant 5-8 years $48,214
Expert Level Administrive Assistant over 8 years $48,405

How Do Administrive Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Administrive Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $50,772.
  • California: $50,580.
  • Massachusetts: $49,906.

Top Paying Cities for Administrive Assistant

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $57,839
  • San Francisco: $57,205
  • Oakland: $56,000

Administrive Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Administrive Assistant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Telecom sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average. In contrast, Administrive Assistant positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Administrive Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Administrive Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense $52,735 $25.0 15%
Telecom $52,735 $25.0 15%
Biotechnology $50,442 $24.0 10%
Energy & Utilities $50,442 $24.0 10%
Internet $50,442 $24.0 10%

How Education impacts an Administrive Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Administrive Assistant professionals enter the field with a high school degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Administrive Assistant with a high school is between $44,365 and $47,070.

Administrive Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Administrive Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Degree 1.1%
High School 33.1%
Associate's Degree 19.5%
Bachelor's Degree 42.6%
Master's Degree or MBA 3.6%
JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 0.1%
View as Graph

Administrive Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Administrive Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$41,745
Average $45,856/year
$50,444
$3,479
Average $3,821/month
$4,204
$803
Average $882/week
$970
$20
Average $22/hour
$24
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $50,444 $4,204 $970 $24
Average $45,856 $3,821 $882 $22
25th Percentile $41,745 $3,479 $803 $20

Most common benefits for Administrive Assistant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Administrive Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Administrive Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Administrive Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Administrive Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President Internal Communications

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    20 Days Ago

  • C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Local CDL

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President Payments Engineering

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    27 Days Ago

  • Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    27 Days Ago

  • USPS | Columbus, OH

    USPS Postal Workers

    USPS | Columbus, OH

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking Mail Carriers and City Carrier Assistants (CCA) to deliver mail and packages to residential and business... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Administrive Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Administrive Assistant?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Administrive Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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