Administrative assistants who specialize in a high-value industry or earn the CAP certification consistently out-earn their generalist peers by 30–45%.

Updated Q1 2026 · BLS OES Data

Administrative Assistant Salary in 2026

What administrative assistants actually earn in the US — national averages, state-by-state data, and experience-level breakdowns. Data sourced from BLS OES, adjusted quarterly.

Median Hourly

$22/hr

$45,760/yr

Entry Level

$15/hr

$31,200/yr

Senior Level

$35/hr

$72,800/yr

Salary Trend

+2.8% (2025–2026)

+5% over 24 months

Pay range distribution (hourly)

$15

$18

$22

$27

$35

Entry level← National median: $22/hr →Senior level

Data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, adjusted for 2026. View methodology →

+63%

Senior vs entry pay gap

Certified senior admins in legal or financial sectors earn 63% more than entry-level general office admins.

+45%

Top state premium

Washington DC admins earn 45% above the national median, driven by government and association sector demand.

+27%

Legal specialization premium

Legal administrative assistants earn a $6/hr premium over general admins — the highest specialty uplift in the category.

$4–7/hr

CAP certification boost

The Certified Administrative Professional credential adds $4–7/hr above the specialty baseline in most markets.

Salary by Experience Level

What you can realistically expect to earn at each stage of your administrative assistant career.

Entry Level

0–2 years

$15/hr

$31,200/yr

Entry-level admin assistants handle basic clerical duties — answering phones, filing, data entry, and scheduling. Microsoft Office proficiency and a professional demeanor are the primary requirements.

Mid-Level

3–6 years

$22/hr

$45,760/yr

Mid-level administrative assistants independently manage complex scheduling, prepare reports, coordinate vendor relationships, and often support multiple managers or an entire department.

Senior

7+ years

$30/hr

$62,400/yr

Senior administrative assistants in specialized industries (legal, healthcare, finance) handle high-complexity administrative functions — often supervising junior admin staff and managing department budgets.

Specialist (Industry-Focused)

5+ years + certification

$35/hr

$72,800/yr

Admins with CAP certification and specialized industry software (Epic for healthcare, Clio for legal, QuickBooks for finance) command the top of the pay range.

Salary by Specialization

How your specific niche within administrative assistant work affects your earning potential.

SpecializationMedian HourlyNotes

Legal Administrative Assistant

$28/hr+$6

Premium for legal terminology and e-filing knowledge

Medical Administrative Assistant

$24/hr+$2

Requires EHR software proficiency (Epic, Cerner)

Financial Administrative Assistant

$26/hr+$4

QuickBooks and expense reporting premium

Government Administrative Assistant

$25/hr+$3

Strong benefits and pension; stable but slow to advance

Educational Administrative Assistant

$20/hr

Below average pay; compensated with school calendar

General Corporate Admin

$22/hr

Broadest category; pay varies by company size

Total Compensation Breakdown

Base salary is only part of the picture. Here's the full annual compensation package typical for administrative assistant roles at mid-to-large employers.

ComponentTypical ValueNotes

Base Salary$15–$35/hrCore hourly rate, varies by industry, experience, and specialization

Annual Bonus$500–$3,000Less common than EA roles; more typical in financial and corporate settings

Health Insurance$6,000–$12,000Employer share of premium; government and large employer plans tend to be richer

401(k) Match$1,500–$3,5003–5% match; public sector often has pension instead

Paid Time Off$2,000–$5,00010–15 days/yr at median wage; imputed cash value

Professional Development$500–$1,500CAP exam fees, software training reimbursement

Bonus range: $500–$3,000/yrBenefits value: $10,000–$22,000/yr

Salary by Industry

The industry you work in can shift your base rate by 40%+ above or below the national median. Here's how sectors rank for administrative assistant pay.

Legal / Law Firms+27%

Document-intensive environment creates premium for detail-oriented admins

Financial Services / Insurance+18%

Regulatory compliance and client-facing work commands higher rates

Healthcare Administration+9%

Medical terminology and HIPAA training add specialized value

Corporate / Enterprise (baseline)Baseline

National median benchmark; large company mid-tier admin roles

Education / Schools-12%

Job security and summers partially offset lower base pay

Nonprofit / Government Entry-18%

Benefits package and stability are the primary compensation levers

Skills That Pay More

Adding these specific skills to your profile can command a measurable hourly premium above the administrative assistant baseline.

CAP Certification (IAAP)

+$4–7/hr

Industry-recognized credential that signals professional commitment and competence

Legal Document Management

+$5–8/hr

Specialized knowledge required; commands legal-sector premium across all admin levels

Advanced Excel / Data Analysis

+$3–5/hr

Crosses into analyst territory — differentiates from basic admin profiles

QuickBooks / Accounting Software

+$2–4/hr

Bookkeeping crossover adds value in small business and nonprofit contexts

Project Coordination (PMP fundamentals)

+$4–6/hr

Elevates role scope toward ops coordinator — often a path to higher-paid lateral moves

Administrative Assistant Salary by State

All 51 jurisdictions (50 states + DC) sorted by median hourly rate.

Highest Paying States

1. District of Columbia$32/hr
2. California$30/hr
3. New York$29/hr
4. Massachusetts$28/hr
5. Washington$27/hr

Lowest Paying States

1. Mississippi$16/hr
2. Arkansas$17/hr
3. West Virginia$17/hr
4. Kentucky$18/hr
5. Alabama$18/hr

StateEntryMedianSenior

DCDistrict of Columbia

$21

$32

+45%

$48

CACalifornia

$20

$30

+36%

$46

NYNew York

$19

$29

+32%

$44

MAMassachusetts

$18

$28

+27%

$42

WAWashington

No state income tax

$18

$27

+23%

$41

NJNew Jersey

$17

$26

+18%

$40

CTConnecticut

$17

$26

+18%

$39

COColorado

$17

$25

+14%

$38

VAVirginia

$17

$25

+14%

$38

MDMaryland

$17

$25

+14%

$38

ILIllinois

$16

$24

+9%

$36

OROregon

$16

$24

+9%

$36

HIHawaii

$16

$24

+9%

$36

RIRhode Island

$16

$23

+5%

$35

AKAlaska

No state income tax; high cost of living

$15

$23

+5%

$34

TXTexas

No state income tax

$15

$22

+0%

$34

MNMinnesota

$15

$22

+0%

$34

NHNew Hampshire

No income tax on wages

$15

$22

+0%

$33

DEDelaware

$15

$22

+0%

$34

FLFlorida

No state income tax

$14

$21

-5%

$32

GAGeorgia

$14

$21

-5%

$32

AZArizona

$14

$21

-5%

$32

NVNevada

No state income tax

$14

$21

-5%

$32

PAPennsylvania

$14

$21

-5%

$32

UTUtah

$14

$21

-5%

$32

VTVermont

$14

$21

-5%

$32

NCNorth Carolina

$14

$20

-9%

$31

OHOhio

$14

$20

-9%

$30

MIMichigan

$14

$20

-9%

$30

MEMaine

$14

$20

-9%

$30

WIWisconsin

$13

$19

-14%

$29

INIndiana

$13

$19

-14%

$29

MOMissouri

$13

$19

-14%

$29

TNTennessee

No state income tax

$13

$19

-14%

$29

SCSouth Carolina

$13

$19

-14%

$29

KSKansas

$13

$19

-14%

$29

NENebraska

$13

$19

-14%

$29

IDIdaho

$13

$19

-14%

$29

WYWyoming

No state income tax

$13

$19

-14%

$29

NDNorth Dakota

$13

$19

-14%

$29

NMNew Mexico

$13

$19

-14%

$29

KYKentucky

$13

$18

-18%

$27

ALAlabama

$12

$18

-18%

$27

LALouisiana

$12

$18

-18%

$27

OKOklahoma

$13

$18

-18%

$28

IAIowa

$13

$18

-18%

$28

MTMontana

$13

$18

-18%

$28

SDSouth Dakota

No state income tax

$13

$18

-18%

$27

ARArkansas

$12

$17

-23%

$26

WVWest Virginia

$12

$17

-23%

$26

MSMississippi

$12

$16

-27%

$25

All values in USD per hour. % = vs national median ($22/hr). States with no income tax noted where applicable.

How to Negotiate Higher Pay

Get the CAP certification before negotiating — it's the most credible credential signal for admin roles and can add $4–7/hr.

Specialize in a high-value industry — legal and financial administrative assistants earn $6–10/hr more than general admins.

Negotiate a professional development budget as part of your package — this funds future certifications that drive your next pay increase.

Document your scope explicitly: if you're managing multiple managers' calendars, that's significantly above a basic admin role and should be paid accordingly.

Don't accept the first offer — research your state's specific BLS wage data and come prepared with market data.

Consider government positions for higher job security and benefits, even if base pay is slightly lower.

When to Negotiate: Timing Is Everything

The same ask lands differently depending on when you make it. These are the highest-leverage windows.

After your first 90 days: once you've demonstrated reliability and initiative, it's the right moment to anchor market rate in conversation.

During annual performance reviews: come with printed BLS state data for your specific occupation and industry — most managers haven't seen it.

When your scope expands (new manager added, new software rolled out): document the additional responsibilities and reprice within 30 days.

When you're being asked to train others: training responsibility is a de facto senior role — negotiate the title and rate change simultaneously.

Compare Salary Across Specialties

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average administrative assistant salary?

The national median for administrative assistants is $22/hr ($45,760/yr). Entry-level positions start at $15–18/hr. Mid-level roles with 3–6 years experience average $20–26/hr. Senior admins — especially those with CAP certification in specialized industries like legal or healthcare — earn $28–35/hr.

Which states pay administrative assistants the most?

Washington DC pays the highest median at $32/hr, followed by California ($30/hr), New York ($29/hr), and Massachusetts ($28/hr). States with no income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada) offer effectively higher take-home pay even when nominal rates match or slightly trail the national median.

How much more do specialized administrative assistants make?

Specialization pays significantly: legal administrative assistants earn $28/hr median (vs $22 general), financial administrative assistants earn $26/hr, and medical administrative assistants earn $24/hr. Adding CAP certification in any of these specializations adds another $4–7/hr above the specialty baseline.

What's the career path from administrative assistant?

Administrative assistant → Senior Administrative Assistant → Office Manager → Executive Assistant is the most common progression. Each step typically adds $6–10/hr. Some admins pivot laterally into HR coordinator, project coordinator, or operations specialist roles, which often pay more than the traditional admin ladder.

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