How Much Does an Executive Administrative Assistant Make? (2025)
Executive administrative assistants are responsible for keeping a business’ clerical and organizational tasks at bay at any given moment. This means that they’re employed in every field, with the majority of them being found in the healthcare field.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a lower job outlook for administrative assistants and secretaries, with only a 1% job outlook for 2023 to 2033. Despite this, there are 367,500 job openings every year, with Salary.com reporting an average yearly salary of $74,500 as of January 2025.
Learn more about the salary trend for executive administrative assistants, top-paying cities in the US, and some FAQs about the occupation in this salary guide.
What is The Average Executive Administrative Assistant’s Salary?
As mentioned above, the salary of an executive administrative assistant is $74,500 per year.
As of January 2025, executive administrative assistant’s salaries range from $57,306 to $93,987, with most earning between $65,500 to 84,700.
2025 Executive Administrative Assistant salary: $74,500 ($36 per hour)
An executive administrative assistant’s average monthly salary is $6,208, while the average weekly pay is $1,433. Meanwhile, the salary of an executive administration assistant per hour is $36 according to the report.
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $28 | $1,102 | $4,775 | $57,306 |
| 25th Percentile | $31 | $1,260 | $5,458 | $65,500 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $36 | $1,433 | $6,208 | $74,500 |
| 75th Percentile | $41 | $1,629 | $7,058 | $84,700 |
| 90th Percentile | $45 | $1,807 | $7,832 | $93,987 |
Executive Administrative Assistant Salaries State by State
The salary for executive administrative assistants differs across US states based on factors like minimum wage, job demand, location, and cost of living.
As shown in the table below, the three (3) states with the lowest average annual salary for executive administrative assistants in the United States are West Virginia, South Dakota, and Mississippi with $67,100, $67,000, and $66,500, respectively.
Meanwhile, the three (3) states with the highest average annual salary for executive administrative assistants are the District of Columbia, California, and Alaska with $82,900, $82,200, and $81,100, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $68,500 |
| Alaska | $81,100 |
| Arizona | $72,600 |
| Arkansas | $67,900 |
| California | $82,200 |
| Colorado | $76,000 |
| Connecticut | $80,000 |
| Delaware | $75,600 |
| District of Columbia | $82,900 |
| Florida | $70,800 |
| Georgia | $72,100 |
| Hawaii | $77,900 |
| Idaho | $69,500 |
| Illinois | $76,200 |
| Indiana | $72,300 |
| Iowa | $71,300 |
| Kansas | $70,900 |
| Kentucky | $70,100 |
| Louisiana | $70,900 |
| Maine | $72,500 |
| Maryland | $76,800 |
| Massachusetts | $81,100 |
| Michigan | $73,500 |
| Minnesota | $76,200 |
| Mississippi | $66,500 |
| Missouri | $71,000 |
| Montana | $69,600 |
| Nebraska | $70,200 |
| Nevada | $74,800 |
| New Hampshire | $75,800 |
| New Jersey | $81,700 |
| New Mexico | $68,700 |
| New York | $79,400 |
| North Carolina | $71,500 |
| North Dakota | $73,800 |
| Ohio | $72,900 |
| Oklahoma | $68,900 |
| Oregon | $75,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,400 |
| Rhode Island | $77,800 |
| South Carolina | $70,300 |
| South Dakota | $67,000 |
| Tennessee | $69,000 |
| Texas | $72,900 |
| Utah | $70,900 |
| Vermont | $73,100 |
| Virginia | $74,700 |
| Washington | $80,300 |
| West Virginia | $67,100 |
| Wisconsin | $73,600 |
| Wyoming | $71,500 |
What are the Best-Paying Cities for Executive Administrative Assistants?
Executive administrative assistants' salaries also vary by city due to the differences in standard of living, local demand for occupation, and industry rates in metropolitan areas.
The table below shows that the labor industry in California is offering higher average annual salaries for executive administrative assistants, specifically in cities like San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Certain cities such as New York, Queens Village, and Paramus also show signs of increased demand for executive administrative assistant occupations:
| City | Average Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $93,500 |
| San Francisco, CA | $93,100 |
| Oakland, CA | $90,900 |
| New York, NY | $87,000 |
| Queens Village, NY | $86,400 |
| Paramus, NJ | $85,800 |
How Does Experience Affect an Executive Administrative Assistant’s Salary?
Having more experience gives executive administrative assistants an edge over their peers and plays an important role in increasing their salary.
Salary.com reports that entry-level executive administrative assistant earns an average annual income of $73,236. Having 2 more years of experience can increase an executive administrative assistant’s salary to $74,204.
After 2 to 4 years of experience, the salary of executive administrative assistants could increase to about $76,488. Specialist and expert-level executive administrative assistants can earn up to $76,945 and $77,249, respectively.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Executive Administrative Assistant | $73,236 |
| Intermediate Level Executive Administrative Assistant | $74,204 |
| Senior Level Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,488 |
| Specialist Level Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,945 |
| Expert Level Executive Administrative Assistant | $77,249 |
How to Increase Salary as an Executive Administrative Assistant?
Although the executive administrative assistant role doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree, knowledge of certain skills and a strong background when it comes to most clerical and organizational tasks is important to earn more.
Below are some of the common skills and advancements needed for a salary raise as an executive administrative assistant.
Executive Administrative Assistant Advancements
- Education: Employers are mostly looking for graduates of vocational schools and community colleges that offer programs specializing in secretarial and administrative tasks. However, a degree in either the business, education, or communications field can help with an executive administrative assistant’s career advancement.
- Training: Beginner executive administrative assistants can train their skills through a couple of weeks on the job – though it can be longer for more specialized fields like medicine and law.
- Experience: Most administrative assistants need at least 3 years of professional experience before being promoted to an executive position. However, most employers require 0 to 2 years of experience before hiring one.
Executive Administrative Assistant Skills
Gaining sought-after skills for an executive administrative assistant is an effective way to earn more salaries and unlock more career opportunities.
The Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report indicates that the most in-demand executive administrative assistant skills are administrative support and spreadsheet software, with 44.17% and 43.20%, respectively.
On the other hand, essential skills such as calendaring and internal communication can increase the salary for executive administrative assistants by 10.91% and 10.09%, respectively.
| Skill | Demand | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Calendaring | 18.52% | +10.91% |
| Internal Communications | 1.95% | +10.09% |
| Business Operations | 1.95% | +9.89% |
| Travel Management | 27.18% | +7.68% |
| Public Relations | 3.43% | +5.86% |
| Spreadsheet Software | 43.20% | +4.94% |
| Administrative Support | 44.17% | +4.23% |
| Procurement | 3.27% | +2.57% |
What are FAQs About Executive Administrative Assistant's Salaries?
Here are some common questions about an executive administrative assistant’s salary:
What does an executive administrative assistant do?
An executive administrative assistant mainly provides clerical and administrative support to the management and executives. However, they can also do other jobs, like the following:
- Managing schedules, ensuring that there are no loose ends and everything is planned correctly. Efficiently planning meetings, appointments, and events that work for their bosses, ensuring smooth operation.
- Coordinating, screening phone calls and emails sent to their bosses, along with preparing reports, processing and handling information requests, and providing statistical reports.
- Provide high level administrative support to the company in correspondence to the executive's needs.
- Efficient communication, like forwarding the executive's memorandum to the entire office, ensuring that all employees are in the loop with what's happening within the company.
What skills should executive administrative assistants possess?
As mentioned above, an ideal candidate for the executive administrative assistant role should know the basics of calendaring, internal communications, and business operations. However, most employers are looking for executive administrative assistants who are equipped with administrative support and spreadsheet software skills.
How much does an executive administrative assistant earn in the U.S.?
An executive administrative assistant with the minimum experience earns $74,500, or $36 per hour in the United States as of January 1, 2025. The highest pay can go up to $93,987 for senior executive administrative assistants, or ones that belong in an organization's 90th percentile.
