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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.
Same job title, wildly different paychecks. Here's why. The national median salary for Medical Secretarys in 2026 is $48,883, with entry-level positions averaging $35,196 and senior roles reaching $69,414. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $89,040, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Medical Secretary falls within the Administrative sector, specifically in Office & Admin. The typical education path involves Postsecondary certificate. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is clinical office — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
$54,180 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Medical Secretary in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $89,040 — $54,180 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($34,860). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Medical Secretarys in 2026: $35,196 at entry (P10), $48,883 at midpoint, and $69,414 at the senior end (P90). Zoom out to the career trajectory, and the entry-level picture changes. The $34,218 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $31,484 below the national median household income of $80,367.
Contrast that with the lowest-paying markets: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $83,160 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $35,140. That $48,020 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
A Medical Secretary in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $89,040 — $54,180 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($34,860). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $35,196 | $48,883 | $69,414 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £19,345 | £26,868 | £38,153 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$28,321 | CA$39,335 | CA$55,856 |
| Australia | 13 | A$31,019 | A$43,082 | A$61,177 |
| Sweden | 24 | 199,732 kr | 277,405 kr | 393,915 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $42,480 | $59,000 | $83,780 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $41,051 | $57,015 | $80,961 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $40,824 | $56,700 | $80,514 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $37,800 | $52,500 | $74,550 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $37,346 | $51,870 | $73,655 |
| Washington | 8 | $36,628 | $50,873 | $72,239 |
| New York | 5 | $34,473 | $47,880 | $67,989 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $34,474 | $47,880 | $67,990 |
| Florida | 22 | $34,212 | $47,517 | $67,475 |
| Colorado | 11 | $33,621 | $46,696 | $66,309 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $33,566 | $46,620 | $66,200 |
| Nevada | 5 | $33,506 | $46,536 | $66,081 |
| Arizona | 12 | $33,340 | $46,305 | $65,753 |
| Oregon | 5 | $33,264 | $46,200 | $65,604 |
| Idaho | 3 | $33,163 | $46,060 | $65,405 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $32,901 | $45,696 | $64,888 |
| Utah | 4 | $32,810 | $45,570 | $64,709 |
| Virginia | 7 | $32,270 | $44,820 | $63,644 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $31,853 | $44,240 | $62,821 |
| Alaska | 1 | $31,752 | $44,100 | $62,622 |
| Illinois | 5 | $31,389 | $43,596 | $61,906 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $30,610 | $42,513 | $60,369 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $30,240 | $42,000 | $59,640 |
| Montana | 1 | $30,240 | $42,000 | $59,640 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $30,139 | $41,860 | $59,441 |
| Texas | 40 | $29,991 | $41,654 | $59,148 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $29,938 | $41,580 | $59,044 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $29,787 | $41,370 | $58,746 |
| Georgia | 6 | $29,686 | $41,230 | $58,547 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $29,635 | $41,160 | $58,447 |
| Kansas | 4 | $29,484 | $40,950 | $58,149 |
| Michigan | 6 | $29,383 | $40,810 | $57,950 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $29,031 | $40,320 | $57,255 |
| Maryland | 1 | $29,030 | $40,320 | $57,254 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $28,728 | $39,900 | $56,658 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $28,728 | $39,900 | $56,658 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $27,972 | $38,850 | $55,167 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $27,821 | $38,640 | $54,869 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $27,443 | $38,115 | $54,123 |
| Missouri | 4 | $27,443 | $38,115 | $54,124 |
| Alabama | 5 | $27,337 | $37,968 | $53,915 |
| Indiana | 3 | $26,914 | $37,380 | $53,080 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $26,914 | $37,380 | $53,080 |
| Iowa | 2 | $26,611 | $36,960 | $52,483 |
| Ohio | 6 | $26,561 | $36,890 | $52,384 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $25,402 | $35,280 | $50,098 |
Geography shapes Medical Secretary pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $59,000 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.
Raw salary rankings and cost-adjusted rankings tell different stories. After adjusting for local costs, Sunnyvale ($42,000 adjusted), Santa Clara ($42,000 adjusted), Irvine ($42,000 adjusted) lead the field. The takeaway: the highest nominal salary doesn't always deliver the best standard of living. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
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 | $89,040 | 212 | $42,000 | $55,744 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $83,160 | 198 | $42,000 | $52,390 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $77,280 | 184 | $42,000 | $49,035 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $76,020 | 181 | $42,000 | $48,316 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $74,760 | 178 | $42,000 | $47,598 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $74,340 | 177 | $42,000 | $47,358 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $74,340 | 177 | $42,000 | $47,358 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $72,660 | 173 | $42,000 | $46,400 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $72,660 | 173 | $42,000 | $46,400 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $70,980 | 169 | $42,000 | $45,441 |
From a career planning perspective, Medical Secretary offers a $34,218 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Postsecondary certificate. Day-to-day, expect clinical office work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Medical Secretarys is $48,883 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $35,196, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $69,414.
The highest-paying city for Medical Secretarys is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $89,040. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($89,040), Santa Clara ($83,160), Irvine ($77,280). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Medical Secretary salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $34,860. 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 Medical Secretarys (10th percentile) average $35,196 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $64,109. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Medical Secretarys average $69,414 nationally — $34,218 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Medical Secretarys can earn up to $126,437.
The top-paying states for Medical Secretarys are California ($59,000 median), Massachusetts ($57,015 median), Hawaii ($56,700 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Medical Secretary involves Postsecondary certificate. The field is in the Administrative sector (Office & Admin), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical office.
With a national median of $48,883 and representation across 288 metro areas, Medical Secretary offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $34,218 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
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.