Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,060
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,390
- 50th Percentile — Median$55,400
- 75th Percentile — Senior$65,400
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$78,170
Half of Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in California earn more than $55,400. The top 10% make $78,170 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,060.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 5th of 51 states for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay, at $57,710 per year (16.9% above the U.S. average of $49,350).
- 158,630 people work as Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in California — 9.3% of all U.S. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants jobs.
- Location quotient 0.79: Secretaries and Administrative Assistants jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,060; the top 10% earn over $78,170.
- Hourly equivalent: $27.75 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $61,270.
- Among business jobs in California, Personal Financial Advisors pays the most ($170,070).
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants here earn $57,710 on average, placing the state 5th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $57,710 is roughly equivalent to $40,641 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($61,270), Connecticut ($58,390), Massachusetts ($58,380) are the closest alternatives for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Business Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Personal Financial Advisors $170,070/yr California +194.7% vs this role
- Financial and Investment Analysts $125,070/yr California +116.7% vs this role
- Project Management Specialists $124,430/yr California +115.6% vs this role
- Financial Examiners $118,710/yr California +105.7% vs this role
- Management Analysts $115,720/yr California +100.5% vs this role
- Credit Analysts $113,670/yr California +97.0% vs this role
- Market Research Analysts $108,120/yr California +87.4% vs this role
- Budget Analysts $105,890/yr California +83.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary in California?
The average Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary in California is $57,710 per year (median $55,400), which is 16.9% above the national average of $49,350.
How does California rank for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay?
California ranks 5th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($61,270/yr).
How much do entry-level Secretaries and Administrative Assistants make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in California earn about $38,060 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,390.
How much do Secretaries and Administrative Assistants make per hour in California?
About $27.75 per hour, based on the $57,710 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Secretaries and Administrative Assistants work in California?
BLS counts 158,630 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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