California Median
$89,000
per year
Hourly Rate
$42.79
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+16% vs US median
US median $76,590
State Rank
#3 of 51
59,640 employed here
How much do Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants make in California?
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in California take home a median of $89,000 annually — roughly $42.79 an hour — which runs 16% above the national median of $76,590.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $58,060 while the top 10% make $130,510 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $72,110 and $107,090 a year.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,060 | $27.91 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $72,110 | $34.67 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $89,000 | $42.79 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $107,090 | $51.49 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,510 | $62.75 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in other states
District of Columbia $90,850New Jersey $89,520Massachusetts $82,650Connecticut $82,520Hawaii $80,710New York $80,640Virginia $80,330Washington $79,250Delaware $78,920Maryland $78,540Minnesota $78,470Rhode Island $77,820Oregon $75,480Pennsylvania $75,270Illinois $74,390New Mexico $73,890Texas $71,990New Hampshire $71,650Arizona $70,770Vermont $70,770North Carolina $70,140Ohio $69,600Alabama $69,450Wisconsin $68,920Georgia $68,290Tennessee $68,190Nevada $67,830Michigan $66,840Alaska $66,210Nebraska $66,210Colorado $65,850Kansas $64,860Florida $64,710Maine $64,100West Virginia $63,820Kentucky $62,410Iowa $62,340North Dakota $61,270Utah $61,130South Carolina $60,890Missouri $60,320Idaho $60,200Oklahoma $59,910Montana $59,750Indiana $59,080Mississippi $55,670South Dakota $55,170Louisiana $53,240Wyoming $52,210Arkansas $51,600
Working as Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in California
Nationally, about 460,000 people work as Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($89,000) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants make in California?
The median Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in California is $89,000 per year, or about $42.79 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $58,060 at the entry level to $130,510 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants about 16% more than the national median of $76,590. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $89,000 a year. About 59,640 Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.