Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Salary
In Washington, executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $79,250 at the median, or about $38.1 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $77,688 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 33.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Washington?
About executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
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What this looks like in Washington
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary by metro in Washington
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $81K | +2% | 7,370 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $80K | +1% | 340 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $80K | +0% | 720 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $79K | -1% | 230 |
| Bellingham | $77K | -3% | 240 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $76K | -4% | 250 |
| Longview-Kelso | $75K | -5% | 100 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $75K | -5% | 130 |
| Yakima | $73K | -8% | 180 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $72K | -10% | 550 |
| Walla Walla | $61K | -23% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 34.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,589/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants?
Washington pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in Washington?
The median is $79,250 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,810, and experienced executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants can clear $106,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,345/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 34.2% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 $77,688 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.