Executive Assistant Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$74,000
national median salary
$60,000 to $90,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $76,590 for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (SOC 43-6011) across the United States, based on 459,910 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$50,560
25th percentile
$61,390
Median
$76,590
75th percentile
$94,390
90th percentile
$109,850
Workers surveyed
459,910
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$74,260
May 2025 release
$76,590
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (SOC 43-6011) rather than Executive Assistantspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 43-6011Highest Paying
$104,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$77,000
New York, NY
Lowest Paying
$55,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 43-6011. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Executive Assistant salary in the United States at $74,000 in 2026, within a range of $60,000 to $90,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $104,000, while New York offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. The seniority of the executive supported is the dominant pay factor.
Executive Assistant salary by city.
Skills that increase Executive Assistant pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Executive Assistants based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $10,360 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$10,360 per year
≈ +$9,620 per year
≈ +$8,880 per year
≈ +$8,140 per year
≈ +$8,140 per year
≈ +$7,400 per year
≈ +$7,400 per year
≈ +$6,660 per year
What you should know.
The seniority of the executive supported is the dominant pay factor. EAs to C-suite leaders earn 25 to 40% more than those supporting VPs or directors. Gatekeeping complexity, international travel coordination, and board-level document preparation all push salaries to the higher end of the range.
Junior EAs start at $48,000 to $58,000 supporting directors or VPs. EAs to SVPs and C-suite earn $68,000 to $95,000. Senior EAs and chiefs of staff reach $90,000 to $130,000. Some transition into operations management or business partner roles exceeding $120,000.
Annual bonuses of 5 to 15% are common, often discretionary and based on executive satisfaction. EAs at tech companies frequently receive equity grants worth $5,000 to $25,000 annually. Some receive the same perks as executives, including travel upgrades.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Executive Assistants typically earn $67,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Executive Assistant pay.
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