Office Career Pay Ladder: Receptionist to Admin Assistant to Executive Assistant
Office support jobs are often treated as interchangeable, but the federal data shows a real pay ladder. The jump from general admin work to supporting senior executives is one of the largest no-degree raises in the office.
The pay ladder at a glance
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Typical entry education | Projected growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receptionist | 910,180 | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 | High school diploma or equivalent | -1.7% |
| Administrative assistant | 1,706,790 | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 | High school diploma or equivalent | -6.0% |
| Executive assistant | 459,910 | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.0% |
| Office supervisor | 1,436,680 | $45,610 | $69,500 | $104,710 | High school diploma or equivalent | +0.1% |
Wages are May 2025 estimates from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; growth and education from BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. The 10th and 90th percentiles show the range from entry-level or lower-paying employers to the most experienced or best-paid workers. For comparison, the median for all U.S. occupations was $50,980.
Receptionist to admin assistant
Receptionists earn a median of $38,010; secretaries and administrative assistants (excluding legal, medical and executive) earn $47,540. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook says high school graduates comfortable with word processing and spreadsheets typically qualify for entry-level jobs.
Admin to executive assistant
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn $76,590, about 61% more than general admin assistants. BLS notes executive assistants typically need several years of related work experience. Employment for executive assistants is projected to change by 0.0% through 2035, so these roles are competitive.
Into supervision
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers earn $69,500. Office managers who handle budgets, vendors and staffing are the usual candidates.
Where executive assistants earn the most
State medians for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants vary widely. The five highest-paying states in the May 2025 survey:
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $90,850 | 4,560 |
| New Jersey | $89,520 | 11,690 |
| California | $89,000 | 59,640 |
| Massachusetts | $82,650 | 14,820 |
| Connecticut | $82,520 | 6,490 |
Pay tips for office staff
- Map your duties to the right job. If you schedule for a C-suite executive, manage confidential projects or run meetings, benchmark against the executive assistant row.
- Ask about overtime status. See the note below.
Published October 27, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
Worth knowing before you accept a salaried EA offer: federal rules say an executive or administrative assistant to a business owner or senior executive of a large business generally meets the duties test for the administrative exemption if they've been given authority to handle matters of significance on their own. General admin assistants usually don't, and are owed overtime. See 29 CFR 541.203(d).