Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in Tennessee
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in Tennessee earn a median of $68,190 a year ($32.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,100 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $76,590. Tennessee ranks 27th of 51 states for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants pay. There are 1.6 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $70,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Tennessee
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,580 | $21.91 |
| 25th percentile | $56,370 | $27.10 |
| Median | $68,190 | $32.78 |
| 75th percentile | $79,840 | $38.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Average (mean) | $70,600 | $33.94 |
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 | $5,682.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,841.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,622.69 |
| Weekly | $1,311.35 |
| Hourly | $32.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $68,190 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary in cities in Tennessee
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $73,700 | 2,430 |
| Knoxville, TN | $67,310 | 570 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $64,680 | 440 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $63,610 | 870 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,430 | 100 |
| Johnson City, TN | $58,750 | 80 |
| Cleveland, TN | $58,480 | 50 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $57,770 | 170 |
| Jackson, TN | $55,750 | 100 |
| Morristown, TN | $51,240 | 50 |
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 Tennessee
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $39,940 | $19.20 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $45,810 | $22.03 |
| Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $45,340 | $21.80 |
| Customer Service Representative | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| Office Clerks, General | $38,860 | $18.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $66,390 | $31.92 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $48,180 | $23.16 |
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $44,920 | $21.60 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $53,020 | $25.49 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $34,910 | $16.79 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| Teller | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $58,570 | $28.16 |
| Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks | $30,160 | $14.50 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in Tennessee
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 Tennessee?
The median salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Tennessee is $68,190 a year, or $32.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants make in Tennessee?
The top 10% of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Tennessee earn at least $98,100 a year. The top 25% earn $79,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in Tennessee?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,580 a year, and a quarter of executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $56,370 or less.
How many executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants work in Tennessee?
About 5,360 executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants are employed in Tennessee, not counting the self-employed.