SOC 43-6014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — Washington
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
In Washington, DC the median wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive is $53,660 a year, which is 12.9% higher than the national figure of $47,540.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Washington, DC the median wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive is $53,660 a year, which is 12.9% higher than the national figure of $47,540. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $44,750 and $64,090. The lowest tenth earn under $37,890, while the highest tenth earn more than $79,660.
The area has 37,010 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.08 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Of the 707 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 499th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,890 | −20.3% |
| 25th | $44,750 | −5.9% |
| Median (50th) | $53,660 | +12.9% |
| 75th | $64,090 | +34.8% |
| 90th | $79,660 | +67.6% |
| Mean | $56,400 | +18.6% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $53,660 buys what $48,826 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$53,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$48,826US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $53,660 a year, 12.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,890 to $79,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 37,010 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Washington, DC?
The median annual wage is $53,660, or $25.80 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 Washington, DC is 12.9% 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 Washington, DC earns more than $79,660 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,890 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 37,010 jobs in this occupation in Washington, DC. 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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