Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Salary in Illinois (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Illinois, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Illinois Median
$48,310
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.23
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+2% vs US median
US median $47,540
State Rank
#17 of 51
74,280 employed here

How much do Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive make in Illinois?

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Illinois take home a median of $48,310 annually — roughly $23.23 an hour — which runs 2% above the national median of $47,540.

Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $31,930 while the top 10% make $76,790 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $39,050 and $61,180 a year.

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary range in Illinois

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$31,930$15.35
25th percentile (early career)$39,050$18.77
50th percentile (median)$48,310$23.23
75th percentile (experienced)$61,180$29.41
90th percentile (top earners)$76,790$36.92

How Illinois compares

Illinois ranks 17th out of 51 states and territories for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1District of Columbia$59,910
2Massachusetts$57,940
3Washington$57,330
4Connecticut$57,210
5California$55,400

Working as Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Illinois

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 Illinois pay ($48,310) 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 Illinois?
The median Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary in Illinois is $48,310 per year, or about $23.23 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $31,930 at the entry level to $76,790 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive about 2% more than the national median of $47,540. Illinois ranks 17th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Yes on pay — Illinois pays above the national median for this occupation, at $48,310 a year. About 74,280 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive are employed in Illinois. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), 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.