Salaries for secretaries vary widely by region; type of business; and the skill, experience, and level of responsibility of the secretary. Secretaries (except legal, medical, and executive) earned median annual salaries of $46,290 in May 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Salaries ranged from $31,600 to $64,150 or more. Fifty percent earned between $37,770 and $55,650.
Medical secretaries earned median annual salaries of $44,640 in May 2024, according to the DOL. Ten percent earned less than $35,050, and 10 percent earned $60,050 or more per year. Legal secretaries earned median annual salaries of $54,140. Salaries for legal secretaries ranged from $35,530 to $87,660 or more annually.
An attorney's rank in the firm will also affect the earnings of a legal secretary; secretaries who work for a partner will earn higher salaries than those who work for an associate. The median salary for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants was $74,260 in May 2024, according to the DOL, with salaries ranging from less than $48,300 to more than $107,710.
Secretaries, especially those working in the legal profession, earn considerably more if they are certified. Most secretaries receive paid holidays and two weeks vacation after a year of work, as well as sick leave. Many offices provide benefits including health and life insurance, pension plans, overtime pay, and tuition reimbursement.
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