Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in California
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in California earn a median of $89,000 a year ($42.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 59,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,510 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $76,590. California ranks 3rd of 51 states for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 3.3 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $92,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| 25th percentile | $72,110 | $34.67 |
| Median | $89,000 | $42.79 |
| 75th percentile | $107,090 | $51.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,510 | $62.75 |
| Average (mean) | $92,220 | $44.34 |
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 | $7,416.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,708.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,423.08 |
| Weekly | $1,711.54 |
| Hourly | $42.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,220 | 5,300 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $105,190 | 11,250 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $92,240 | 490 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $87,910 | 3,530 |
| Vallejo, CA | $86,190 | 230 |
| Napa, CA | $84,640 | 180 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $84,540 | 4,510 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $84,090 | 260 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,850 | 20,850 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $82,740 | 460 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $82,250 | 740 |
| Merced, CA | $80,650 | 150 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $79,790 | 310 |
| Salinas, CA | $79,390 | 360 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,200 | 500 |
| Yuba City, CA | $78,420 | 130 |
| Modesto, CA | $77,900 | 520 |
| Fresno, CA | $77,610 | 880 |
| El Centro, CA | $76,050 | 70 |
| Chico, CA | $75,770 | 170 |
| Visalia, CA | $74,440 | 240 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $73,290 | 4,140 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $72,860 | 650 |
| Redding, CA | $68,030 | 250 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $64,470 | 70 |
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.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $54,490 | $26.20 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $62,860 | $30.22 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $28.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $44,100 | $21.20 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $63,000 | $30.29 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $56,260 | $27.05 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,090 | $29.85 |
| Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $39,360 | $18.92 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in California is $89,000 a year, or $42.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $130,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in California?
The top 10% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in California earn at least $130,510 a year. The top 25% earn $107,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,060 a year, and a quarter of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $72,110 or less.
How many executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants work in California?
About 59,640 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.