Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $49,690 +7.3% vs national
Median hourly $23.89
10th percentile $35,920
90th percentile $76,980
Employed locally 52,700
National median $46,290

Compare Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary & buying power

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Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,920
    25th
    $41,740
    50th (median)
    $49,690
    75th
    $61,880
    90th
    $76,980

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary vs area income 56% Median Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary is 44% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

    Metro areaMedian salary
    New Haven, CT $62,600
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $61,190
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $60,320
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $58,310
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $57,440
    Napa, CA $56,690

    Nearby metros — Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $56,650
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $55,880
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $55,480
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $53,850
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $52,450
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $51,160

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Customer Service Representatives $45,820
    Office Clerks, General $45,450
    Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $50,390
    First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $67,940
    Receptionists and Information Clerks $37,790
    Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $46,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Chicago, IL-IN is $23.89, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.89 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salaries?

    The median Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 7.3% above the national median of $46,290. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Chicago?

    Entry-level Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (10th percentile) earn around $35,920 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $41,740.