SOC 43-6011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants — Columbia
Columbia, MO · 7 metro areas compared
In Columbia, MO the median wage is $61,500.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Columbia, MO the median wage is $61,500. That is 19.7% lower than the national median of $76,590. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $50,310 and $71,120. The lowest tenth earn under $44,910, while the highest tenth earn more than $81,900.
The area has 390 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.22 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Kansas City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $64,460. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 129th of 336 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,910 | −41.4% |
| 25th | $50,310 | −34.3% |
| Median (50th) | $61,500 | −19.7% |
| 75th | $71,120 | −7.1% |
| 90th | $81,900 | +6.9% |
| Mean | $61,720 | −19.4% |
Other metro areas in Missouri
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $64,460 | 2,940 | |
| 2 | St. Louis | $63,500 | 3,990 | |
| 3 | Jefferson City | $55,740 | 250 | |
| 4 | St. Joseph | $54,760 | 100 | |
| 5 | Springfield | $53,920 | 570 | |
| 6 | Joplin | $53,590 | 160 | |
| 7 | Cape Girardeau | $53,420 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbia run 9.2% below the national average, so the median of $61,500 goes as far as $67,731 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,731US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,500 a year, 19.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,910 to $81,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 390 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kansas City, at $64,460.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in Columbia, MO?
The median annual wage is $61,500, or $29.57 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $76,590, so pay in Columbia, MO is 19.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Columbia, MO earns more than $81,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,910 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Kansas City, at $64,460 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 390 jobs in this occupation in Columbia, MO. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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