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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
This is the salary picture most job boards don't show you. The national median salary for Administrative Assistants in 2026 is $51,211, with entry-level positions averaging $36,872 and senior roles reaching $72,720. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $93,280, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Administrative Assistant falls within the Administrative sector, specifically in Office & Admin. The typical education path involves High school + experience. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is hybrid — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$56,760 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Administrative Assistant in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $93,280 — $56,760 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($36,520). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The salary distribution for Administrative Assistants reveals a $35,848 spread from entry to senior. At $51,211, the median sits $29,156 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $36,872 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $72,720 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $87,120 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $36,813 (average of the bottom 3). That $50,307 delta is real money — $4,192/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Administrative Assistant in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $93,280 — $56,760 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($36,520). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $36,872 | $51,211 | $72,720 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £20,266 | £28,148 | £39,970 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$29,670 | CA$41,208 | CA$58,516 |
| Australia | 13 | A$32,496 | A$45,134 | A$64,090 |
| Sweden | 24 | 209,243 kr | 290,615 kr | 412,673 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $44,503 | $61,809 | $87,769 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $43,006 | $59,730 | $84,817 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $42,768 | $59,400 | $84,348 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $39,600 | $55,000 | $78,100 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $39,125 | $54,340 | $77,163 |
| Washington | 8 | $38,372 | $53,295 | $75,679 |
| New York | 5 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Florida | 22 | $35,842 | $49,780 | $70,688 |
| Colorado | 11 | $35,222 | $48,920 | $69,466 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $35,165 | $48,840 | $69,353 |
| Nevada | 5 | $35,101 | $48,752 | $69,228 |
| Arizona | 12 | $34,927 | $48,510 | $68,884 |
| Oregon | 5 | $34,848 | $48,400 | $68,728 |
| Idaho | 3 | $34,742 | $48,253 | $68,520 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $34,468 | $47,872 | $67,978 |
| Utah | 4 | $34,373 | $47,740 | $67,791 |
| Virginia | 7 | $33,807 | $46,954 | $66,675 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $33,370 | $46,347 | $65,812 |
| Alaska | 1 | $33,264 | $46,200 | $65,604 |
| Illinois | 5 | $32,884 | $45,672 | $64,854 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $32,067 | $44,538 | $63,244 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Montana | 1 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $31,574 | $43,853 | $62,272 |
| Texas | 40 | $31,419 | $43,637 | $61,965 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $31,364 | $43,560 | $61,856 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $31,205 | $43,340 | $61,543 |
| Georgia | 6 | $31,099 | $43,193 | $61,335 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $31,046 | $43,120 | $61,230 |
| Kansas | 4 | $30,888 | $42,900 | $60,918 |
| Michigan | 6 | $30,782 | $42,753 | $60,710 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Maryland | 1 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $30,096 | $41,800 | $59,356 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $30,096 | $41,800 | $59,356 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $29,304 | $40,700 | $57,794 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $29,146 | $40,480 | $57,482 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $28,750 | $39,930 | $56,701 |
| Missouri | 4 | $28,750 | $39,930 | $56,701 |
| Alabama | 5 | $28,639 | $39,776 | $56,482 |
| Indiana | 3 | $28,195 | $39,160 | $55,607 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $28,195 | $39,160 | $55,607 |
| Iowa | 2 | $27,878 | $38,720 | $54,982 |
| Ohio | 6 | $27,826 | $38,647 | $54,878 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $26,611 | $36,960 | $52,483 |
Geography shapes Administrative Assistant pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $61,809 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($93,280 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $44,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $93,280 | 212 | $44,000 | $58,163 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $87,120 | 198 | $44,000 | $54,649 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $80,960 | 184 | $44,000 | $51,135 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $79,640 | 181 | $44,000 | $50,382 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $78,320 | 178 | $44,000 | $49,629 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $77,880 | 177 | $44,000 | $49,378 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $77,880 | 177 | $44,000 | $49,378 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $76,120 | 173 | $44,000 | $48,373 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $76,120 | 173 | $44,000 | $48,373 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $74,360 | 169 | $44,000 | $47,369 |
Career economics for Administrative Assistants: entry level averages $36,872, mid-career hits $51,211, and experienced professionals reach $72,720. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires High school + experience, and the work is hybrid. The outlook: steady. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The weighted national median salary for Administrative Assistants is $51,211 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $36,872, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $72,720.
The highest-paying city for Administrative Assistants is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $93,280. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($93,280), Santa Clara ($87,120), Irvine ($80,960). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Administrative Assistant salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $36,520. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Administrative Assistants (10th percentile) average $36,872 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $67,162. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Administrative Assistants average $72,720 nationally — $35,848 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Administrative Assistants can earn up to $132,458.
The top-paying states for Administrative Assistants are California ($61,809 median), Massachusetts ($59,730 median), Hawaii ($59,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Administrative Assistant involves High school + experience. The field is in the Administrative sector (Office & Admin), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $51,211 and representation across 288 metro areas, Administrative Assistant offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $35,848 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.