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Salary comparison

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

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss out-earn Office Clerks, Generals by $920 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss land at $45,930 and Office Clerks, Generals at $45,010. The education gap is real: medical secretaries and 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 Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss is Washington ($58,100); for Office Clerks, Generals it's District of Columbia ($55,040).

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Office Clerks, General
Median salary
$45,930
$45,010
Hourly rate
$22.08/hr
$21.64/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,930
$30,310
Senior level (90th %)
$60,530
$64,680
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
961,610
2,464,940
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Office & Admin
Office & Admin
Top-paying state
Washington
District of Columbia

Pay by state

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

State
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Office Clerks, General
Washington
$58,100
$50,500
California
$54,490
$48,460
Massachusetts
$50,290
$49,940
Oregon
$50,130
$49,910
Minnesota
$50,030
$47,840
District of Columbia
$49,180
$55,040
New Jersey
$48,660
$48,570
Connecticut
$48,500
$48,280
New Hampshire
$48,410
$49,020
Vermont
$48,200
$48,310
Alaska
$47,870
$51,890
Maryland
$47,850
$47,270
Colorado
$46,920
$53,550
Rhode Island
$46,860
$47,830
North Dakota
$45,390
$50,160

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss or Office Clerks, Generals?

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss earn more nationally. The median is $45,930 for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss versus $45,010 for Office Clerks, Generals, a difference of $920. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

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

Medical Secretaries and 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 Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss at $58,100/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss earn $58,100 vs. $50,500 for Office Clerks, Generals. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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