Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in Illinois
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in Illinois earn a median of $74,390 a year ($35.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,850 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $76,590. Illinois ranks 16th of 51 states for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants pay. 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 $76,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| 25th percentile | $57,590 | $27.69 |
| Median | $74,390 | $35.76 |
| 75th percentile | $93,180 | $44.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,850 | $50.41 |
| Average (mean) | $76,610 | $36.83 |
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 | $6,199.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,099.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,861.15 |
| Weekly | $1,430.58 |
| Hourly | $35.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $74,390 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,770 | 10,620 |
| Springfield, IL | $73,510 | 830 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $68,560 | 260 |
| Kankakee, IL | $67,450 | 60 |
| Bloomington, IL | $66,690 | 260 |
| Peoria, IL | $63,810 | 270 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $63,500 | 3,990 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $62,890 | 60 |
| Rockford, IL | $62,100 | 160 |
| Decatur, IL | $60,490 | 80 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,420 | 340 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $53,420 | 90 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $46,670 | $22.44 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $52,790 | $25.38 |
| Customer Service Representative | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $69,010 | $33.18 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $49,730 | $23.91 |
| Teller | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $57,880 | $27.83 |
| Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | $48,440 | $23.29 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Illinois is $74,390 a year, or $35.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in Illinois?
The top 10% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Illinois earn at least $104,850 a year. The top 25% earn $93,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,750 a year, and a quarter of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $57,590 or less.
How many executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants work in Illinois?
About 14,900 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.