SOC 43-6014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Chicago, IL is $50,440 per year, close to the national median of $47,540 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Chicago, IL is $50,440 per year, close to the national median of $47,540 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $42,260 and $62,970. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,300 and the ninetieth at $78,820.
Employment stands at 50,190, or 11.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Bloomington records the highest median at $51,880. Of the 716 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 487th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,300 | −27.9% |
| 25th | $42,260 | −11.1% |
| Median (50th) | $50,440 | +6.1% |
| 75th | $62,970 | +32.5% |
| 90th | $78,820 | +65.8% |
| Mean | $54,630 | +14.9% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bloomington | $51,880 | 930 | |
| 2 | Champaign | $48,260 | 1,220 | |
| 3 | Springfield | $47,550 | 1,290 | |
| 4 | Peoria | $46,550 | 2,010 | |
| 5 | Rockford | $46,130 | 1,360 | |
| 6 | Decatur | $45,890 | 500 | |
| 7 | Kankakee | $44,740 | 540 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $50,440 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$50,440as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$50,440US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,440 a year, 6.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,300 to $78,820 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50,190 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bloomington, at $51,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $50,440, or $24.25 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 $47,540, so pay in Chicago, IL is 6.1% higher. 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 Chicago, IL earns more than $78,820 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,300 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 Bloomington, at $51,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50,190 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. 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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