Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
The median pay for a secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $44,980/year ($21.63/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $44,552 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month — about 58.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $45K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executives (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $56K | +21% | 12,130 |
| Connecticut | $56K | +20% | 22,690 |
| Washington | $55K | +18% | 34,280 |
| Massachusetts | $54K | +16% | 34,570 |
| California | $53K | +15% | 169,670 |
| Rhode Island | $52K | +11% | 4,390 |
| Hawaii | $51K | +9% | 6,720 |
| Oregon | $50K | +8% | 23,260 |
| Minnesota | $50K | +8% | 30,160 |
| New Jersey | $50K | +7% | 60,320 |
| New York | $49K | +6% | 127,620 |
| Illinois | $48K | +3% | 79,440 |
| Vermont | $48K | +3% | 3,060 |
| Maine | $47K | +2% | 6,800 |
| Maryland | $47K | +1% | 55,250 |
| Delaware | $47K | +1% | 6,480 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | +1% | 29,290 |
| Alaska | $46K | -0% | 5,320 |
| New Hampshire | $46K | -0% | 9,710 |
| Virginia | $46K | -0% | 35,140 |
| Arizona | $46K | -1% | 31,620 |
| Nevada | $46K | -1% | 16,070 |
| North Dakota | $45K | -2% | 6,070 |
| Ohio | $45K | -2% | 53,690 |
| Utah | $45K | -2% | 14,910 |
| Michigan | $45K | -3% | 42,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $45K | -3% | 72,610 |
| Nebraska | $45K | -4% | 15,920 |
| Iowa | $44K | -5% | 12,320 |
| Florida | $44K | -6% | 98,270 |
| Wyoming | $43K | -6% | 2,410 |
| Tennessee | $43K | -6% | 35,410 |
| Texas | $43K | -6% | 150,480 |
| North Carolina | $43K | -7% | 45,740 |
| New Mexico | $43K | -7% | 24,510 |
| South Carolina | $42K | -10% | 27,450 |
| Montana | $42K | -10% | 3,830 |
| Kentucky | $42K | -10% | 19,680 |
| Indiana | $41K | -11% | 21,850 |
| Idaho | $41K | -12% | 9,130 |
| Missouri | $40K | -13% | 36,350 |
| Alabama | $40K | -13% | 42,180 |
| South Dakota | $40K | -14% | 5,840 |
| Georgia | $39K | -15% | 49,870 |
| Kansas | $39K | -16% | 28,500 |
| West Virginia | $39K | -16% | 8,970 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -17% | 20,730 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -18% | 28,590 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -20% | 9,630 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -22% | 16,200 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Charleston-North Charleston numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executives make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $44,980 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executives can clear $60,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,077/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 58.1% 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 secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive salary go in Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (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 secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive salary is worth about $44,552 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executives 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.