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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.
The highest-paying city might surprise you. The lowest-paying one probably won't. The national median salary for Executive Assistants in 2026 is $72,726, with entry-level positions averaging $52,363 and senior roles reaching $103,271. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $135,368, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Office & Admin within the broader Administrative industry, Executive Assistants typically hold Associate's or bachelor's. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is hybrid. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$78,942 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Executive Assistant in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $135,368 — $78,942 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($56,426). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The salary distribution for Executive Assistants reveals a $50,908 spread from entry to senior. At $72,726, the median sits $7,641 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $52,363 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $103,271 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) averages $128,136, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) averages $57,813. The $70,323 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Executive Assistant in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $135,368 — $78,942 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($56,426). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Executive Assistant is $52,363, while senior-level (P90) earners average $103,271. That $50,908 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Executive Assistants at $92,383 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $75,872) is $16,511.
Even at the 10th percentile, Executive Assistants average $52,363 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $52,363 | $72,726 | $103,271 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £31,321 | £43,501 | £61,772 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$45,854 | CA$63,686 | CA$90,433 |
| Australia | 13 | A$50,221 | A$69,752 | A$99,048 |
| Sweden | 24 | 323,375 kr | 449,132 kr | 637,768 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $66,516 | $92,383 | $131,184 |
| California | 61 | $59,763 | $83,004 | $117,865 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $57,612 | $80,017 | $113,624 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $56,102 | $77,919 | $110,645 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $54,628 | $75,872 | $107,738 |
| Washington | 8 | $53,535 | $74,354 | $105,583 |
| Oregon | 5 | $52,938 | $73,524 | $104,405 |
| Colorado | 11 | $52,658 | $73,136 | $103,854 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $52,630 | $73,097 | $103,798 |
| New York | 5 | $52,378 | $72,747 | $103,301 |
| Illinois | 5 | $52,260 | $72,583 | $103,068 |
| Nevada | 5 | $51,661 | $71,751 | $101,886 |
| Virginia | 7 | $51,631 | $71,710 | $101,828 |
| Idaho | 3 | $51,631 | $71,710 | $101,828 |
| Utah | 4 | $51,201 | $71,113 | $100,980 |
| Florida | 22 | $51,153 | $71,046 | $100,886 |
| Arizona | 12 | $51,103 | $70,976 | $100,786 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $51,042 | $70,891 | $100,666 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $50,452 | $70,072 | $99,503 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $50,108 | $69,595 | $98,825 |
| Michigan | 6 | $50,051 | $69,515 | $98,712 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $50,026 | $69,481 | $98,663 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $49,922 | $69,335 | $98,457 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $49,126 | $68,230 | $96,887 |
| Alaska | 1 | $49,126 | $68,230 | $96,887 |
| Iowa | 2 | $49,126 | $68,230 | $96,887 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $49,126 | $68,230 | $96,887 |
| Montana | 1 | $49,126 | $68,230 | $96,887 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $48,454 | $67,298 | $95,563 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $48,389 | $67,207 | $95,434 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $48,383 | $67,199 | $95,423 |
| Texas | 40 | $48,318 | $67,108 | $95,293 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $48,156 | $66,883 | $94,974 |
| Georgia | 6 | $48,020 | $66,695 | $94,707 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $47,959 | $66,610 | $94,586 |
| Indiana | 3 | $47,832 | $66,433 | $94,336 |
| Alabama | 5 | $47,298 | $65,692 | $93,283 |
| Ohio | 6 | $47,194 | $65,546 | $93,076 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $47,161 | $65,501 | $93,012 |
| Maryland | 1 | $47,112 | $65,433 | $92,915 |
| Missouri | 4 | $47,075 | $65,382 | $92,842 |
| Kansas | 4 | $46,964 | $65,228 | $92,624 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $46,768 | $64,955 | $92,236 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $46,522 | $64,614 | $91,752 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $43,525 | $60,452 | $85,842 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $41,511 | $57,654 | $81,869 |
Geography shapes Executive Assistant pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. Hawaii tops the state leaderboard at $92,383 median, with 1 cities providing data. California and Massachusetts follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Arkansas 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. Santa Clara ($135,368 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $68,368 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 | Oceanside California | $99,957 | 146 | $68,464 | $61,972 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $135,368 | 198 | $68,368 | $81,478 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $103,232 | 151 | $68,366 | $68,226 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $115,513 | 169 | $68,351 | $70,547 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $120,972 | 177 | $68,346 | $73,553 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $125,748 | 184 | $68,341 | $76,182 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $115,445 | 169 | $68,311 | $85,864 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $109,782 | 161 | $68,188 | $67,392 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $100,230 | 147 | $68,184 | $62,128 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $99,548 | 146 | $68,184 | $61,739 |
The $50,908 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Executive Assistant career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Administrative sector, steady, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Executive Assistants is $72,726 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $52,363, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $103,271.
The highest-paying city for Executive Assistants is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $135,368. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($135,368), Irvine ($125,748), San Francisco ($123,292). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Executive Assistant salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $56,426. 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 Executive Assistants (10th percentile) average $52,363 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $97,465. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Executive Assistants average $103,271 nationally — $50,908 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Executive Assistants can earn up to $192,223.
The top-paying states for Executive Assistants are Hawaii ($92,383 median), California ($83,004 median), Massachusetts ($80,017 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Executive Assistant involves Associate's or bachelor's. 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 $72,726 and representation across 288 metro areas, Executive Assistant offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $50,908 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.