Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive vs. Office Clerks, General: Who Earns More?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive out-earn Office Clerks, General by $3K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive land at $47,540 and Office Clerks, General at $45,010. The education gap is real: secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while office clerks, general programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive is District of Columbia ($59,910); for Office Clerks, General it's District of Columbia ($55,040).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive or Office Clerks, General?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earn more nationally. The median is $47,540 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive versus $45,010 for Office Clerks, General, a difference of $3K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive or Office Clerks, General?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 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, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive or Office Clerks, General?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive get paid the most?
District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive at $59,910/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive vs. Office Clerks, General pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earn $59,910 vs. $55,040 for Office Clerks, General. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.