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Office & Admin

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary in District of Columbia

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in District of Columbia make a median of $101,170 a year, or about $48.64 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers.

AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)

$101K
Median annual
$48.64/hr
Hourly rate
$56K
Entry level (10th %)
$122K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $101K get you in District of Columbia?

Take-home$6,150/mo
2BR rent (est.)-$2,246/mo
Rent burden36.5% (above 30%)
COL-adjusted salary$101,170/yr
After rent$3,904/mo
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About legal secretaries and administrative assistants

U.S. employed: 2,040
Category: Office & Admin
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Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia

Bar chart showing Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary percentiles in District of Columbia: 10th percentile $56,320, 25th percentile $70,320, median $101,170, 75th percentile $108,310, 90th percentile $122,370. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$56K25th$70KMedian$101K75th$108K90th$122K
Bar chart showing Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary percentiles in District of Columbia: 10th percentile $56,320, 25th percentile $70,320, median $101,170, 75th percentile $108,310, 90th percentile $122,370. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level legal secretaries and administrative assistants (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K.Top earners bring in $122K or more - a $66K spread from bottom to top.

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Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay across states

Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure

StateMedian salaryvs. nationalEmployment
District of Columbia$101K+87%2,040
New York$74K+37%15,430
Delaware$64K+18%970
Maryland$63K+17%1,410
Rhode Island$62K+14%N/A
Connecticut$61K+13%1,140
Massachusetts$61K+13%3,880
California$61K+13%23,960
Minnesota$61K+13%2,500
New Jersey$60K+12%3,910
Washington$60K+10%4,090
Alaska$60K+10%560
Illinois$58K+7%8,860
Hawaii$57K+5%520
Michigan$56K+3%3,070

Track legal secretaries and administrative assistants salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do legal secretaries and administrative assistants make in District of Columbia?

The median is $101,170 a year - that works out to about $48.64 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,320, and experienced legal secretaries and administrative assistants can clear $122,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $101K enough to live in District of Columbia?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,150/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $2,246/month (median of metro areas), which eats 36.5% 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 legal secretaries and administrative assistants salary go in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median legal secretaries and administrative assistants salary is worth about $101,170 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do legal secretaries and 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.

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