Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $65,750 a year, or about $31.61 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $67,388 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month — about 38.9% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $66K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
About legal secretaries and administrative assistants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level legal secretaries and administrative assistants (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K.Top earners bring in $70K or more - a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Legal Secretaries and 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 | $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 Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do legal secretaries and administrative assistants make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $65,750 a year - that works out to about $31.61 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,460, and experienced legal secretaries and administrative assistants can clear $69,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,307/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 39.7% 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 legal secretaries and administrative assistants salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 legal secretaries and administrative assistants salary is worth about $67,388 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.