Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
In Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $77,680 at the median, or about $37.34 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $70,682 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 83.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $78K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Cruz-Watsonville’s Regional Price Parity (109.9). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $86K | +15% | 4,640 |
| California | $85K | +14% | 63,250 |
| New Jersey | $84K | +13% | 12,850 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +8% | 6,660 |
| New York | $80K | +8% | 88,830 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +7% | 16,630 |
| Delaware | $78K | +6% | 1,330 |
| Washington | $78K | +5% | 10,570 |
| Virginia | $78K | +5% | 9,600 |
| Hawaii | $78K | +4% | 1,210 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +3% | 7,830 |
| Maryland | $76K | +2% | 15,940 |
| Illinois | $74K | +0% | 13,490 |
| New Mexico | $72K | -3% | 3,130 |
| Oregon | $70K | -5% | 6,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $70K | -6% | 11,870 |
| New Hampshire | $70K | -6% | 1,320 |
| Texas | $70K | -6% | 35,090 |
| Rhode Island | $69K | -7% | 1,200 |
| Alabama | $68K | -8% | 3,040 |
| Georgia | $68K | -8% | 12,710 |
| Arizona | $68K | -9% | 6,640 |
| Vermont | $67K | -9% | 800 |
| Ohio | $66K | -11% | 11,040 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -11% | 4,430 |
| North Carolina | $66K | -11% | 9,610 |
| Tennessee | $66K | -12% | 5,080 |
| Michigan | $65K | -12% | 8,960 |
| Florida | $65K | -12% | 19,950 |
| Nevada | $64K | -14% | 2,610 |
| Nebraska | $64K | -14% | 2,150 |
| Kansas | $64K | -14% | 3,180 |
| Alaska | $64K | -14% | 1,580 |
| Maine | $61K | -17% | 2,690 |
| South Carolina | $61K | -18% | 3,690 |
| North Dakota | $60K | -19% | 430 |
| Montana | $60K | -19% | 490 |
| Iowa | $59K | -20% | 4,460 |
| Idaho | $59K | -20% | 1,150 |
| Kentucky | $59K | -21% | 3,430 |
| Indiana | $58K | -21% | 5,330 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -23% | 890 |
| Missouri | $57K | -23% | 9,550 |
| Oklahoma | $57K | -24% | 3,260 |
| Utah | $56K | -25% | 6,960 |
| Mississippi | $54K | -27% | 1,490 |
| Arkansas | $53K | -29% | 2,000 |
| Wyoming | $52K | -31% | 530 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -32% | 1,600 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -34% | 10,810 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
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Frequently asked questions
How much do executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $77,680 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,390, and experienced executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants can clear $122,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,973/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 84.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants salary go in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants salary is worth about $70,682 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.