Administrative Assistant Salary 2026: U.S. Pay Guide & Benefits.
Administrative assistants keep offices organized. They schedule meetings, manage calendars, prepare documents, maintain records, communicate with employees or customers, and support managers or departments.
In the United States, this occupation exists across private companies, federal agencies, state governments, counties, cities, schools, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and other employers. Pay can therefore look very different depending on the employer and location.
This guide breaks down 2026 compensation across the three major sectors, explains location differences, taxes and deductions, benefits, career progression, and the qualifications needed to enter the field.
Who Is an Administrative Assistant?
An administrative assistant provides day-to-day organizational and clerical support. Typical duties include scheduling appointments, preparing correspondence, maintaining electronic and paper records, coordinating meetings, processing documents, answering calls, and assisting with departmental procedures.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics places these jobs within the broader secretaries and administrative assistants occupational group. In May 2025, the group had a median annual wage of $48,310, with the lowest 10% earning below $35,360 and the highest 10% earning above $77,720.
The exact occupation matters. Executive, legal, and medical administrative roles are separate BLS categories and can have different compensation.
Federal Administrative Assistant Salary
Federal administrative-support jobs commonly appear under GS-0303, Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant, although some positions with secretary duties may use another classification such as GS-0318. OPM states that GS-0303 covers clerical, assistant, or technician work that does not fit another specialized series.
Federal Government Salary Structure
For 2026, the General Schedule received a 1% annual increase. Locality pay is added according to the employee’s geographic pay area, so there is no single nationwide federal salary for this occupation.
| Federal grade | Rest of U.S. Step 1 | Rest of U.S. Step 10 | 2026 Washington, DC Step 1 | 2026 New York Step 1 |
| GS-5 | $40,736 | $52,957 | $46,610 | $48,005 |
| GS-6 | $45,409 | $59,031 | $51,957 | $53,512 |
| GS-7 | $50,460 | $65,599 | $57,736 | $59,465 |
*Source: OPM 2026 General Schedule and locality tables. These are gross annual basic salaries before employee deductions. *
GS-0303 positions can range from GS-1 through GS-7 depending on the complexity and responsibility of the work. OPM’s clerical and assistance guide evaluates positions based on factors such as knowledge, complexity, supervisory controls, and responsibility.
Important: locality percentages and the underlying GS tables are revised periodically. The 2026 Rest-of-U.S. table includes a 17.06% locality payment, while Washington-Baltimore-Arlington has 33.94% and New York has 37.95%.
Federal Pay Variation by Location
Federal employees in the same grade and step can receive different gross pay because of locality adjustments.
| Location | Locality payment in 2026 | Example GS-5 Step 1 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $40,736 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $46,610 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $48,005 |
*Source: OPM 2026 locality tables.
State and Local Government Salary
State and local governments do not use one nationwide administrative-assistant pay scale. Each state, county, city, school district, or public agency can establish its own classification and salary schedule.
The following are real 2026 California government examples, provided to illustrate how widely local government compensation can vary.
State/Local Government Salary Structure
| Government employer | Position | Published 2026 annual range |
| City of Imperial, CA | Administrative Assistant | $43,472–$58,240 |
| City of Sacramento, CA | Administrative Assistant | $58,257–$81,974 |
| City of Elk Grove, CA | Administrative Assistant I/II | $53,089–$78,633 |
| City of Lakewood, CA | Administrative Assistant II | $89,820–$109,188 |
*Sources: published 2026 municipal job postings/classification schedules. These are local-government examples, not a national state/local-government average. *
The City of Hanford’s 2026 salary schedule, for example, lists Administrative Assistant at $4,360–$5,300 per month, equivalent to approximately $52,320–$63,600 annually when multiplied by 12.
Pay Variation by State and Locality
Location can materially change public-sector pay. A municipal administrative assistant in a high-cost California city may have a substantially different salary range from a similar title in a smaller municipality.
| Example | Published range | Main reason for difference |
| Imperial, CA | $43,472–$58,240 | Smaller municipal pay structure |
| Sacramento, CA | $58,257–$81,974 | Larger city/department classification |
| Lakewood, CA, Administrative Assistant II | $89,820–$109,188 | Higher-level classification |
For an actual application, candidates should always use the salary schedule attached to the specific government vacancy.
Private-Sector Salary
Private-sector administrative assistants work in businesses ranging from small offices to multinational corporations. Common employers include professional services firms, finance companies, technology businesses, construction companies, law firms, universities, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits.
The most useful nationwide benchmark is BLS wage data. For the broader secretaries and administrative assistants occupation, May 2025 data show a median wage of $48,310 per year. The 10th percentile was below $35,360 and the 90th percentile was above $77,720.
Private-Sector Salary Structure
| Pay level | Annual gross pay | Source |
| Lower 10% | Below $35,360 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median | $48,310 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Upper 10% | Above $77,720 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
These are gross wages, not take-home pay. They should not be interpreted as a guaranteed starting or maximum salary for every administrative assistant.
Industry also matters. BLS reported a May 2025 median wage of $54,250 for secretaries and administrative assistants working in government outside state/local education and hospitals, compared with $54,080 in professional, scientific, and technical services.
Bonuses, commissions, and equity are not standard components of this occupation. Where employers provide them, they are employer-specific and should be evaluated separately from base salary.
Salary Comparison: Federal vs. State/Local vs. Private
| Sector | Representative 2026 pay evidence | Pay structure |
| Federal government | GS-5 to GS-7; $40,736–$65,599 in Rest of U.S. depending on grade/step | GS base + locality + step progression |
| State/local government | Examples range from $43,472 to $109,188 in selected CA municipalities | Published municipal/state salary ranges |
| Private sector | $35,360–$77,720 represents the BLS 10th-to-90th percentile boundary for the broader occupation | Market wage; employer-specific benefits/bonus |
*Federal figures: OPM 2026. State/local figures: cited municipal schedules. Private figures: BLS May 2025. *
The figures are not perfectly interchangeable because government classifications and private-sector occupational groupings are different systems.
Career Progression and Advancement Path
Federal
A common federal progression is from lower-level clerical support into more complex GS-5, GS-6, and GS-7 work. OPM’s grade guide describes GS-5 work as handling a full range of standard and non-standard assignments, while GS-6 involves a wider range of transactions and more complicated rules and procedures.
A realistic progression might look like:
Entry clerical role → GS-4/5 administrative support → GS-6 → GS-7 → specialized administrative/program position
There is no universal timeline. Step increases and promotions depend on appointment terms, performance, agency needs, qualifications, and whether a higher-grade vacancy exists.
State and Local Government
Progression commonly follows classifications such as:
Administrative Assistant I → Administrative Assistant II → Senior Administrative Assistant → Administrative Analyst or supervisory role
The timeline varies by municipality. Some employers have formal promotional ladders, while others require employees to compete for new vacancies.
Private Sector
Typical progression can be:
Administrative Assistant → Senior Administrative Assistant → Executive Assistant → Office/Operations Coordinator → Office Manager or administrative operations role
Moving into executive support, project coordination, HR, finance, procurement, or operations can expand the range of available jobs and compensation.
Benefits and Perks
Federal Government
Federal employees may have access to:
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)
- Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance
- FERS retirement
- Thrift Savings Plan
- Life insurance
- Annual and sick leave
- Paid federal holidays
- Flexible work schedules where the agency and position permit
- Potential student-loan repayment assistance
OPM states that most new federal employees participate in FERS, which combines Social Security, a basic retirement benefit, and the Thrift Savings Plan.
Full-time federal employees generally earn 4 hours of annual leave per biweekly pay period during their first three years, increasing to 6 hours after three years and 8 hours after 15 years. Sick leave generally accrues at 4 hours per biweekly pay period.
State and Local Government
Benefits vary by employer but commonly include health coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave. BLS reported that in March 2025, 92% of state and local government workers had access to retirement benefits, compared with 72% of private-industry workers.
Private Sector
Benefits depend heavily on the employer. They can include health insurance, paid vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, retirement plans such as 401(k)s, employer matching, disability coverage, and occasional bonuses.
In March 2025, 72% of private-industry workers had access to retirement benefits, while 70% had access to defined-contribution plans.
Deductions and Take-Home Pay
The figures above are gross compensation, not net pay. Take-home earnings depend on the employee’s filing status, taxable income, benefits, retirement contributions, and location.
Federal Income Tax
For 2026, federal individual income tax rates range from 10% to 37%. For a single filer, the 2026 standard deduction is $16,100. The brackets are progressive, so the entire salary is not taxed at the employee’s highest marginal rate.
FICA
Employee FICA generally consists of:
- Social Security: 6.2% on covered wages up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500
- Medicare: 1.45% on wages
- Additional Medicare Tax: 0.9% on wages above the applicable threshold, including $200,000 for many single filers and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly
The standard employee Social Security plus Medicare rate is therefore 7.65% before any Additional Medicare Tax.
State Income Tax
State tax can significantly change net pay.
California has a progressive individual income-tax system. New York also has graduated rates, and New York City adds a local personal income tax for city residents.
Texas does not impose a personal income tax on wages.
As of 2026, eight states have no individual income tax at all; Washington taxes certain capital gains rather than wage income. The remaining states use either flat or graduated structures.
Local Income Tax
Local income taxes are not universal. New York City is a notable example. NYC residents pay a city personal income tax in addition to applicable federal and New York State taxes.
Retirement Contributions
A federal employee may have FERS and TSP deductions. Private employees may contribute to a traditional or Roth 401(k), depending on the employer’s plan. State and local workers may participate in a state or municipal pension or defined-contribution system.
Because these variables differ so much, a nationwide “take-home percentage” would be misleading.
How to Enter This Field and Get the Job
A four-year degree is not universally required for administrative assistant positions. Many private employers focus on office experience, communication, organization, computer skills, and familiarity with Microsoft Office or similar productivity software.
Useful skills include:
- Microsoft Word and Excel
- Outlook or other calendar/email systems
- Data entry
- Document management
- Scheduling
- Professional communication
- Basic bookkeeping or purchasing
- Customer service
- Confidential information handling
Federal Route
For federal employment, begin by searching USAJOBS for administrative assistant, administrative support, clerk/assistant, secretary, and related classifications.
USAJOBS requires applicants to review the individual vacancy’s qualification and application requirements. Some announcements include an online assessment or questionnaire, and the applicant’s resume must support the answers given.
There is no single governmentwide “administrative assistant exam” for every vacancy. The announcement determines the applicable qualifications and assessment process.
State/Local Route
Apply directly through the state’s civil-service website or the municipality’s recruitment portal. Requirements can range from high-school education and office experience to college coursework or specialized experience for higher-level classifications.
Career-Changer Route
Someone changing careers can start with receptionist, office coordinator, customer-service, records, scheduling, or data-entry work and then move into administrative support.
Which Sector Should You Choose?
The private sector can offer a broad range of industries and potentially faster movement between employers. Federal employment provides a structured pay system, locality adjustments, and a defined benefits framework, while state and local government jobs can provide formal salary schedules and public-sector retirement benefits.
The trade-off is that government hiring can involve more formal procedures, and promotions depend on available classifications or vacancies. Private-sector advancement can be more employer-dependent and may vary substantially with company size and industry.
The best fit depends on whether you value a standardized compensation system, local government employment, industry flexibility, or the opportunity to change employers more easily.
FAQs
1. What is a typical administrative assistant salary?
There is no single national starting salary. BLS data for the broader occupation show wages below $35,360 at the 10th percentile and a median of $48,310 in May 2025. Actual starting offers depend on experience, location, industry, and employer.
2. Can an administrative assistant make more than $60,000?
Yes. The BLS 2025 data show that compensation extends well above the national median, and specialized, executive, government, and high-cost-location positions can have higher published ranges. Some 2026 municipal positions reviewed for this guide have salary ranges exceeding $60,000.
3. Do federal administrative assistants receive locality pay?
Yes, when covered by the General Schedule locality system. The 2026 GS tables apply different locality percentages depending on geographic area.
4. Is a bachelor’s degree required?
Not for every position. Requirements vary by employer and classification. Federal vacancies specify their own qualification standards, while private and local-government employers may accept a combination of education, experience, and skills.
5. Are administrative assistant jobs available remotely?
Some private employers offer hybrid or remote administrative work, but it depends on the duties. Government positions may also permit telework where agency policy and the position allow it. A job that requires physical records, reception, visitors, or on-site coordination is less likely to be fully remote.
6. Is executive assistant work different from administrative assistant work?
Yes. Executive administrative assistants generally provide higher-level support, such as managing complex calendars, preparing reports, coordinating senior leadership activities, and handling sensitive information.
BLS reported a $76,590 median annual wage for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in May 2025, compared with $48,310 for the broader secretaries and administrative assistants group.
Conclusion
Administrative support remains a large U.S. occupational category with opportunities in private companies and all levels of government. In 2026, compensation ranges widely because federal locality pay, municipal salary schedules, industry, experience, and state taxes all affect the final financial picture.
For candidates comparing offers, look beyond the advertised salary. Compare gross pay, retirement contributions, health-insurance costs, paid leave, location, taxes, promotion opportunities, and the actual duties of the position.
