Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $46,440 +0.3% vs national
Median hourly $22.33
10th percentile $33,340
90th percentile $62,810
Employed locally 2,800
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
Des Moines, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,340
    25th
    $38,940
    50th (median)
    $46,440
    75th
    $55,130
    90th
    $62,810

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary vs area income 55% Median Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary is 45% 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
    District of Columbia $55,800
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $53,570
    California $53,190
    Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $52,610
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $51,580
    North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area $51,390

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Customer Service Representatives $48,240
    Office Clerks, General $44,350
    Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks $49,500
    First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $67,540
    Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants $40,450
    Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks $47,340

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in Des Moines, IA is $22.33, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.54 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines 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 Des Moines, IA is 0.3% 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (10th percentile) earn around $33,340 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,940.