Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Salary
In North Carolina, executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $70,140 at the median, or about $33.72 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $75,696 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $70K get you in North Carolina?
About executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $70K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $70K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $80K | +14% | 2,620 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $73K | +5% | N/A |
| Rocky Mount | $70K | -0% | 50 |
| Winston-Salem | $68K | -3% | 510 |
| Fayetteville | $67K | -5% | 210 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $66K | -6% | 560 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $64K | -9% | 1,200 |
| Greenville | $63K | -10% | 150 |
| Wilmington | $63K | -10% | 340 |
| Burlington | $62K | -12% | 80 |
| Jacksonville | $61K | -13% | 40 |
| Asheville | $59K | -15% | 250 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $55K | -22% | N/A |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $53K | -25% | 200 |
| Goldsboro | $50K | -29% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $70K, rent takes 28.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,983/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is executive secretaries and executive administrative assistant a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $70K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants?
North Carolina pays $70K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in North Carolina?
The median is $70,140 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,720, and experienced executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants can clear $99,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $70K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,548/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 28.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants salary is worth about $75,696 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.