Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$45,930
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.08
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$60,530
entry level starts ~$35,930
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 962,000 employed

How much do Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants make?

The median pay for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the United States is $45,930 per year — about $22.08 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $35,930, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $60,530.

That is $15,460 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary range by percentile

Half of all Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn between $38,570 and $50,580 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$35,930$17.27
25th percentile (early career)$38,570$18.54
50th percentile (median)$45,930$22.08
75th percentile (experienced)$50,580$24.32
90th percentile (top earners)$60,530$29.10

Highest-paying states for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay at $58,100 a year, followed by California ($54,490) and Massachusetts ($50,290). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $36,290 — a gap of $21,810 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Washington$58,100$27.93+26%
2California$54,490$26.20+19%
3Massachusetts$50,290$24.18+9%
4Oregon$50,130$24.10+9%
5Minnesota$50,030$24.05+9%

Workforce and education

About 962,000 people work as Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants make in the United States?
The median Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary in the United States is $45,930 per year, or about $22.08 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $35,930, while the top 10% of earners make $60,530 or more.
How does Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants median of $45,930 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, with a median salary of $58,100 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants work in the United States?
About 962,000 people were employed as Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.