Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in Ames, IA
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in the Ames, IA metro area earn a median of $61,990 a year ($29.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,470 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $76,590. Pay here is 1% lower than the Iowa statewide median of $62,340. There are 2.4 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Ames, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| 25th percentile | $50,990 | $24.51 |
| Median | $61,990 | $29.80 |
| 75th percentile | $73,270 | $35.23 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,470 | $40.13 |
| Average (mean) | $64,500 | $31.01 |
Half of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,165.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,582.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,384.23 |
| Weekly | $1,192.12 |
| Hourly | $29.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $68,240 | 990 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $64,990 | 1,740 |
| Iowa City, IA | $62,740 | 430 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $60,670 | 120 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,420 | 340 |
| Dubuque, IA | $60,360 | 110 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $59,770 | 170 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,500 | 360 |
Highest-paying states for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $90,850 |
| New Jersey | $89,520 |
| California | $89,000 |
| Massachusetts | $82,650 |
| Connecticut | $82,520 |
| Hawaii | $80,710 |
| New York | $80,640 |
| Virginia | $80,330 |
| Washington | $79,250 |
| Delaware | $78,920 |
See Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Ames, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $48,740 | $23.44 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $40,210 | $19.33 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,820 | $20.59 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $66,420 | $31.93 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| Teller | $43,060 | $20.70 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,840 | $29.25 |
| Library Assistants, Clerical | $30,070 | $14.46 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| Information and Record Clerks, All Other | $53,710 | $25.82 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Ames, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-6011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in Ames, IA?
The median salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in the Ames, IA metro area is $61,990 a year, or $29.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,470 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in Ames, IA?
The top 10% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in the Ames, IA metro area earn at least $83,470 a year. The top 25% earn $73,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Ames, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,640 a year, and a quarter of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $50,990 or less.
How many executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants work in Ames, IA?
About 140 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants are employed in the Ames, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.