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Salary comparison

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants vs. Office Clerks, General: Who Earns More?

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants out-earn Office Clerks, General by $32K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants land at $76,590 and Office Clerks, General at $45,010. The education gap is real: executive secretaries and executive administrative assistant programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while office clerks, general programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants is District of Columbia ($90,850); for Office Clerks, General it's District of Columbia ($55,040).

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Office Clerks, General
Median salary
$76,590
$45,010
Hourly rate
$36.82/hr
$21.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$50,560
$30,310
Senior level (90th %)
$109,850
$64,680
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
459,910
2,464,940
Job growth (10-year)
-1.6%
-6.7%
Category
Office & Admin
Office & Admin
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants median pay.

State
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Office Clerks, General
District of Columbia
$90,850
$55,040
New Jersey
$89,520
$48,570
California
$89,000
$48,460
Massachusetts
$82,650
$49,940
Connecticut
$82,520
$48,280
Washington
$79,250
$50,500
Maryland
$78,540
$47,270
Minnesota
$78,470
$47,840
Rhode Island
$77,820
$47,830
Oregon
$75,480
$49,910
New Hampshire
$71,650
$49,020
Vermont
$70,770
$48,310
Alaska
$66,210
$51,890
Colorado
$65,850
$53,550
North Dakota
$61,270
$50,160

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants or Office Clerks, General?

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants earn more nationally. The median is $76,590 for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants versus $45,010 for Office Clerks, General, a difference of $32K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants or Office Clerks, General?

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants has the better 10-year outlook at -1.6% projected growth, compared to -6.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants or Office Clerks, General?

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Office Clerks, General requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants at $90,850/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants vs. Office Clerks, General pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants earn $90,850 vs. $55,040 for Office Clerks, General. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary breakdownView →Full Office Clerks, General salary breakdownView →Best cities for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Office Clerks, General by take-home payExplore →How to become a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistantsGuide →How to become a office clerks, generalGuide →