California Median
$55,400
per year
Hourly Rate
$26.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+17% vs US median
US median $47,540
State Rank
#5 of 51
158,630 employed here
How much do Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive make in California?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive working in California earn a median salary of $55,400 per year, or about $26.63 per hour. That is 17% above the national median of $47,540 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $38,060 while the top 10% make $78,170 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,390 and $65,400 a year.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,060 | $18.30 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,390 | $22.30 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $55,400 | $26.63 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $65,400 | $31.44 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,170 | $37.58 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary in other states
District of Columbia $59,910Massachusetts $57,940Washington $57,330Connecticut $57,210Rhode Island $52,140Oregon $51,740Minnesota $51,400Hawaii $50,830New Jersey $50,260Maine $49,820New York $49,600Vermont $48,920Colorado $48,690Maryland $48,680Alaska $48,530Illinois $48,310New Hampshire $48,080Delaware $47,970Arizona $47,940Wisconsin $47,710Virginia $47,620North Dakota $47,480Utah $47,050Nebraska $46,760Nevada $46,570New Mexico $46,450Pennsylvania $46,270Ohio $46,230Michigan $46,020Florida $45,900Tennessee $45,810North Carolina $45,790Wyoming $45,450Iowa $45,150Texas $45,140South Carolina $44,880Indiana $44,270Kentucky $44,200Montana $43,940Idaho $43,710Missouri $43,540Kansas $42,270South Dakota $41,700Alabama $41,630Georgia $41,600West Virginia $40,370Oklahoma $39,660Louisiana $38,790Arkansas $37,630Mississippi $37,340
Working as Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in California
Nationally, about 1,707,000 people work as Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($55,400) 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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive make in California?
The median Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary in California is $55,400 per year, or about $26.63 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,060 at the entry level to $78,170 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive about 17% more than the national median of $47,540. California ranks 5th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $55,400 a year. About 158,630 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 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.