Best paying cities for administrative assistants, after cost of living
After cost of living, administrative assistant pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $57,011) and least far in Miami (worth $41,550).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $62,940 | 110.4 | $57,011 | +20% |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $59,330 | 108.3 | $54,783 | +15% |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $60,230 | 111.1 | $54,212 | +14% |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $62,110 | 115.6 | $53,728 | +13% |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $55,360 | 105.4 | $52,524 | +10% |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $54,080 | 104.8 | $51,603 | +9% |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $55,020 | 106.7 | $51,565 | +8% |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $49,000 | 96.3 | $50,883 | +7% |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $55,380 | 111.9 | $49,491 | +4% |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $48,470 | 98.1 | $49,409 | +4% |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $53,660 | 108.9 | $49,275 | +4% |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $50,440 | 103.6 | $48,687 | +2% |
| 13 | St. Louis, MO | $46,200 | 95.1 | $48,580 | +2% |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $46,800 | 97.3 | $48,099 | +1% |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $45,550 | 94.7 | $48,099 | +1% |
| 16 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,850 | 102.6 | $47,612 | 0% |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $46,750 | 98.6 | $47,414 | 0% |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $48,800 | 103.3 | $47,241 | −1% |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $47,330 | 100.3 | $47,188 | −1% |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $53,550 | 113.6 | $47,139 | −1% |
| 21 | Baltimore, MD | $49,220 | 104.5 | $47,100 | −1% |
| 22 | Denver, CO | $49,760 | 105.8 | $47,032 | −1% |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $47,450 | 103.1 | $46,023 | −3% |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | $46,040 | 100.2 | $45,948 | −3% |
| 25 | San Antonio, TX | $43,440 | 94.7 | $45,871 | −4% |
| 26 | New York, NY | $51,440 | 112.6 | $45,684 | −4% |
| 27 | Atlanta, GA | $45,270 | 100.1 | $45,225 | −5% |
| 28 | Orlando, FL | $44,370 | 101.4 | $43,757 | −8% |
| 29 | Miami, FL | $47,450 | 114.2 | $41,550 | −13% |
U.S. median for administrative assistants: $47,540. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive, SOC 43-6014); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.