Executive Asst Salary 2026: U.S. Pay by Sector, State & Experience
An executive asst salary in the United States depends heavily on experience, employer size, location and whether the job is in private business or government. The latest BLS data puts the median pay for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants at $76,590 per year, while current private-sector market estimates can run higher for experienced executive assistants.
This career exists in all three major employment sectors: private companies, federal agencies, and state or local governments. The title can also cover very different levels of responsibility, from supporting one executive to coordinating the office of a city manager, agency director or senior corporate leader.
The sections below separate those pay structures so you can compare compensation without mixing unrelated salary systems.
Who Is an Executive Assistant?
An executive assistant provides high-level administrative and organizational support to executives, directors, elected officials or senior managers.
Typical duties include managing calendars, arranging meetings and travel, preparing correspondence, handling confidential information, coordinating events, tracking deadlines and communicating with internal and external stakeholders. Some senior positions also involve project coordination, budget work, research or supervision.
BLS classifies the closest occupation as Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants, SOC 43-6011. In 2025, about 489,300 people were employed in this occupation, and BLS projects essentially flat employment through 2035.
Private-Sector executive asst salary
Private companies employ executive assistants across technology, finance, healthcare, consulting, entertainment, manufacturing, professional services and other industries.
There is no standardized pay scale. An assistant supporting a small-business owner may earn considerably less than one supporting a Fortune 500 CEO or managing a complex executive office.
Private-Sector Salary Structure
The latest BLS May 2025 data reports a $76,590 median annual wage for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants. The mean annual wage was $79,140.
| Private-sector pay point | Annual compensation |
| BLS median | $76,590 |
| BLS mean | $79,140 |
| Current Salary.com 25th percentile | $67,563 |
| Current Salary.com median | $76,645 |
| Current Salary.com 75th percentile | $86,532 |
Salary.com, using September 2026 data for the broader “Executive Assistant” title, reports a 25th-to-75th percentile range of $67,563–$86,532. Its figures are a market estimate rather than a federal statistical series, so they should be used alongside BLS rather than treated as an official wage determination.
For senior executive assistants working with high-level leadership, compensation can move above the national median. Company size, industry, executive seniority, specialized skills and location are major factors.
Bonuses are possible in private employment, but they are not guaranteed and should not be added to base salary unless the employer specifically lists them.
Pay Variation by Location: Private Sector
Location makes a meaningful difference. Older BLS state-level data illustrates why a national median should not be treated as a universal offer: in May 2023, annual mean wages were $86,300 in California, $84,570 in New York and $68,560 in Texas.
| Location | BLS annual mean wage, May 2023 |
| California | $86,300 |
| New York | $84,570 |
| Texas | $68,560 |
| Florida | $69,410 |
| Massachusetts | $77,590 |
These state figures are older than the national 2025 release, so use them as evidence of geographic variation, not as 2026 salary quotes. BLS has released May 2025 state and metropolitan datasets, but individual employer offers still depend on the specific job and market.
Federal Government executive asst salary
Federal executive assistant jobs require more care when comparing pay because “Executive Assistant” is a functional title, not one universal GS classification.
Depending on the duties, an executive-support position may be classified at GS-7, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12, GS-13, GS-14 or another appropriate level. Senior positions supporting agency executives can therefore earn substantially more than routine administrative jobs.
Federal Salary Structure
The 2026 OPM General Schedule received a 1% base pay increase effective January 2026. The Rest of U.S. locality table adds a 17.06% locality payment to the applicable GS base rates.
| GS level | 2026 Rest of U.S. annual range |
| GS-7 | $50,460–$65,599 |
| GS-8 | $55,882–$72,644 |
| GS-9 | $61,722–$80,243 |
| GS-11 | $74,678–$97,087 |
| GS-12 | $89,508–$116,362 |
| GS-13 | $106,437–$138,370 |
| GS-14 | $125,776–$163,514 |
These are OPM’s 2026 Rest of U.S. locality rates. A federal employee’s actual salary can be higher or different in another locality area.
Current USAJOBS postings demonstrate how wide the range can be. One 2026 federal administrative-support position in Huntington, West Virginia, advertised GS-9 through GS-11 at $61,722–$97,087. A VA supervisory position serving as an Executive Assistant to a Network Director was advertised at GS-14, $125,776–$187,093, depending on locality.
That does not mean every federal executive assistant earns $125,000+. The grade follows the complexity, responsibility and qualification requirements of the position.
Federal Locality Pay Matters
The same GS grade can produce different paychecks depending on the duty station.
For example, the 2026 Rest of U.S. table uses a 17.06% locality payment, while OPM lists 22.21% for the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington locality and 32.36% for Alaska before applicable pay caps.
Federal pay tables are revised periodically, so today’s GS number should not be copied into a future salary article without checking the latest OPM schedule.
State and Local Government Executive Assistant Salary
State and local government is another major path. Executive assistants may support city managers, mayors, county administrators, department directors, school systems or other public executives.
Unlike federal employment, there is no nationwide state/local pay scale.
State/Local Salary Structure
Current published government salary schedules show substantial variation:
| Government employer | Published annual salary range |
| City of Kirkland, WA | $91,476–$119,356 |
| City of Pasadena, CA | $80,017–$100,021 |
| City of Coronado, CA | $75,859–$101,659 |
| City of Puyallup, WA | $80,676–$103,284 |
| City of Eastvale, CA | $75,977–$94,885 |
These are employer-specific salary ranges, not a national state/local average. Kirkland’s Executive Assistant classification, for example, supports the City Manager, City Council, Deputy City Managers and the City Manager’s Office.
Governmentjobs.com postings and classification schedules also show why title matching matters. An executive assistant to a mayor or city council may have substantially more responsibility than a department-level administrative assistant.
Executive Assistant Salary Comparison
Looking across the sectors gives a clearer picture of the trade-offs.
| Sector | Typical published pay evidence | Main pay driver |
| Private sector | $67,563–$86,532, 25th–75th percentile on current Salary.com data | Employer, industry, executive level and location |
| Federal government | Roughly $50,460–$163,514 across selected GS-7 to GS-14 Rest-of-U.S. levels | GS grade, step and locality |
| State/local government | Examples range from about $75,859 to $119,356 | Employer classification and local pay schedule |
The private-sector figures are market estimates, while federal and state/local figures above are tied to published government schedules. They should not be interpreted as equivalent statistical measures.
Career Progression and Advancement
Executive assistants can advance without leaving administrative work, but the path depends on the employer.
A common private-sector progression is:
Administrative Assistant → Executive Assistant → Senior Executive Assistant → Executive Operations/Chief of Staff-type role
The timeline is not fixed. BLS reports that prior work experience was required for 87.2% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in its 2025 Occupational Requirements Survey.
In federal government, advancement is tied to the classification of the position. A worker might move from a lower-level administrative position into a GS-9 or GS-11 role and later compete for higher-graded positions. Federal promotions are governed by qualification requirements and vacancy announcements rather than an automatic promotion simply because someone has worked a certain number of years.
At the state/local level, an employee may progress from administrative assistant to executive assistant, senior executive assistant, office manager or administrative-services leadership. Exact timelines vary by civil-service rules and employer.
Benefits and Perks
Benefits can materially change the value of an offer.
Private Sector
Common benefits may include:
- Employer-sponsored health insurance
- 401(k) plans and possible employer matching
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- Dental and vision insurance
- Life or disability insurance
- Performance bonuses at some companies
- Hybrid or remote work at some employers
None of these should be assumed. Read the actual benefits package before comparing two offers.
Federal Government
Federal employees may receive benefits including FERS retirement coverage, Thrift Savings Plan participation, FEHB health insurance, paid leave and other federal benefits, subject to eligibility and appointment rules.
The TSP functions as the defined-contribution component of the federal retirement system, while FERS also includes a pension component and Social Security coverage.
State and Local Government
Benefits vary by government employer but may include health insurance, paid leave, retirement plans or pensions, deferred-compensation plans and employee assistance programs.
A higher salary is not automatically the better offer if another employer provides a stronger retirement package or substantially lower employee-paid health costs.
Deductions and Take-Home Pay in 2026
Gross salary is not the amount deposited into your bank account.
Federal Income Tax
Federal income tax is progressive. For tax year 2026, the IRS lists rates of 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. For a single filer, the 2026 standard deduction is $16,100.
The marginal rate is applied to the relevant layer of taxable income, not to the entire salary.
FICA
Employees generally pay 7.65% FICA: 6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare.
For 2026, Social Security tax applies to earnings up to $184,500. Medicare has no wage cap, and an additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies above the applicable high-income threshold.
State Income Tax
Your state can significantly change take-home earnings.
For example, California has progressive individual income-tax rates reaching 12.3% under its 2025 schedule, with an additional 1% tax above the applicable high-income threshold.
Texas, by contrast, has no individual state income tax on wages. In 2026, the nine states with no broad individual income tax are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming, with Washington also having no wage income tax but a separate capital-gains tax structure.
Local Income Tax
Some locations add another layer. New York City and Philadelphia are well-known examples of cities with local wage/income taxes.
That means two people earning the same gross executive assistant pay can have noticeably different net pay depending on where they live and work.
Retirement Contributions
Private-sector employees may contribute to a traditional or Roth 401(k), depending on the plan.
Federal workers covered by FERS generally have retirement contributions involving the FERS system and TSP. State and local workers may instead participate in a state or municipal pension system.
Because filing status, deductions, insurance premiums and retirement contributions vary, there is no honest nationwide “executive assistant take-home percentage.”
How to Become an Executive Assistant
A four-year degree is not universally required.
BLS reports that a high school diploma was the minimum formal education requirement for 57.9% of executive secretary/executive administrative assistant jobs in its 2025 Occupational Requirements Survey. Prior experience, however, was much more common.
Useful skills include:
- Calendar and travel management
- Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
- Written communication
- Meeting coordination
- Confidential information handling
- Expense and document management
- Project coordination
- Professional judgment
- Strong interpersonal skills
For federal jobs, applicants must follow the specific USAJOBS announcement. The announcement determines the GS grade, required experience or education, application documents and any security or background requirements.
Career changers often enter through administrative assistant, office coordinator, receptionist or operations-support roles and then move toward executive support after developing stronger organizational and communication skills.
Which Sector Should You Choose?
If your priority is maximum upside and faster salary growth, private companies can offer more room to negotiate, especially in high-paying industries and major metros.
Federal employment is more structured. The GS system makes pay progression clearer, while locality pay and federal benefits can make the total package attractive even when the base salary is not the highest available.
State and local government can be a good middle ground, particularly when a city or county offers a strong retirement plan and a high salary schedule. The trade-off is that opportunities and compensation vary dramatically between jurisdictions.
For most candidates, the best choice comes down to the entire package—not salary alone.
Executive Assistant Salary FAQs
What is the average executive assistant salary in 2026?
The latest BLS data for the closely matching occupation, executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants, shows a $76,590 median annual wage in May 2025. Current private-market estimates can differ depending on methodology and job definition.
Can an executive assistant make $100,000 a year?
Yes. Six-figure compensation is possible, particularly in senior private-sector positions, expensive metropolitan markets and higher-level government classifications. It is not representative of every executive assistant position.
What GS level is an executive assistant?
There is no single GS grade for all federal executive assistants. Current federal postings show executive-support roles at levels including GS-9 through GS-11 and GS-14, depending on responsibility and qualification requirements.
Do executive assistants need a bachelor’s degree?
Not always. BLS reports that a high school diploma was sufficient as the minimum formal education requirement in 57.9% of executive secretary/executive administrative assistant jobs in its 2025 requirements survey. Experience is often more important for senior executive-support positions.
Which states pay executive assistants the most?
California and New York have historically been among the higher-paying states for this occupation, although actual offers vary by metro area, employer and seniority. BLS May 2023 data showed annual mean wages of $86,300 in California and $84,570 in New York.
Is government or private-sector executive assistant work better?
Neither is automatically better. Private employers may offer faster salary growth and bonuses, while government positions can provide structured pay progression and strong benefits. The right choice depends on your priorities around compensation, stability, retirement and flexibility.
Conclusion
Executive assistant compensation in 2026 ranges widely because the title covers everything from experienced administrative support to senior executive-office roles. The strongest candidates tend to combine organization and communication skills with discretion, technology skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
When comparing offers, look beyond the headline salary. Local taxes, retirement contributions, health premiums, bonuses, locality pay and career progression can make a major difference to the value of the job.
