Hiring Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Employers across the 91 metro areas we have BLS OEWS wage data for pay executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants a median of $49,730 to $106,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A search through recruitlocalpros runs Tier I to Tier VI, $6,240 to $54,340, set by seniority, never by location or salary. Our vetted recruiting partner handles sourcing, screening and placement end to end.
What do executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants do?
- Manage and maintain executives' schedules.
- Make travel arrangements for executives.
- Prepare invoices, reports, memos, letters, financial statements, and other documents, using word processing, spreadsheet, database, or presentation software.
- Coordinate and direct office services, such as records, departmental finances, budget preparation, personnel issues, and housekeeping, to aid executives.
- Answer phone calls and direct calls to appropriate parties or take messages.
- Prepare responses to correspondence containing routine inquiries.
Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 43-6011.00.
What does it take to become one?
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
O*NET Job Zone 3, SVP (6.0 to < 7.0). O*NET OnLine.
Employers commonly list experience with Google Workspace software, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word for this role.
What do executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants get paid?
BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in 91 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $49,730 to $106,220 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $68,240. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.
BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 43-6011.
What does hiring one cost?
The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants in this build is $106,220. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $21,244 to $31,866 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.
Frequently asked
- How fast can a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants search fill?
- 23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.
- What if the hire does not work out?
- A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.
Price a executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants search
Eight questions about the role. Your tier range appears on screen, with the contingency comparison if you are paying one now.