How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make?
The median legal secretary and administrative assistant in the United States earns $55,570 per year, about $26.72 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all legal secretaries and administrative assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 43-6012.
Legal secretary and administrative assistant salary range
Pay for legal secretaries and administrative assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $36,500 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $91,730. The average (mean) wage of $60,620 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,500 | $17.55 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $44,450 | $21.37 | |
| Median (50th) | $55,570 | $26.72 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $71,970 | $34.60 | |
| 90th percentile | $91,730 | $44.10 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for legal secretaries and administrative assistants (SOC 43-6012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Legal secretary and administrative assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants earn the most in District of Columbia at $99,280 a year, and the least in Kansas at $36,620. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,280 | 1,940 |
| New York | $72,230 | 9,800 |
| Connecticut | $66,220 | 1,090 |
| Delaware | $66,130 | 980 |
| Minnesota | $63,180 | 2,410 |
| New Jersey | $63,080 | 4,160 |
| Rhode Island | $63,020 | 390 |
| California | $62,860 | 27,470 |
| Massachusetts | $62,120 | 4,020 |
| Maryland | $61,440 | 1,670 |
| Alaska | $61,280 | 660 |
| Oregon | $59,610 | 1,590 |
| Colorado | $59,490 | 2,030 |
| Washington | $58,360 | 3,950 |
| New Mexico | $57,800 | 1,400 |
| Michigan | $56,870 | 3,580 |
| Nevada | $56,470 | 1,430 |
| Wisconsin | $55,410 | 1,210 |
| Virginia | $55,320 | 2,380 |
| Arizona | $55,120 | 2,600 |
| North Dakota | $53,540 | 360 |
| Utah | $52,860 | 940 |
| South Carolina | $52,840 | 2,280 |
| Illinois | $52,790 | 8,030 |
| New Hampshire | $51,830 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,430 | 6,230 |
| Ohio | $51,080 | 4,360 |
| Hawaii | $49,460 | 680 |
| Vermont | $49,090 | N/A |
| Florida | $48,510 | 10,920 |
| Georgia | $48,460 | 3,260 |
| Louisiana | $48,050 | 2,460 |
| Maine | $48,040 | 860 |
| South Dakota | $47,790 | 560 |
| Indiana | $47,740 | 2,670 |
| West Virginia | $46,960 | 1,200 |
| Wyoming | $46,960 | 280 |
| Iowa | $46,590 | 1,120 |
| Alabama | $45,950 | 1,840 |
| Oklahoma | $45,950 | 1,290 |
| Texas | $45,940 | 13,380 |
| Nebraska | $45,800 | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $45,340 | 2,980 |
| Mississippi | $45,140 | 820 |
| North Carolina | $43,720 | 3,780 |
| Idaho | $41,880 | 420 |
| Arkansas | $41,410 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $39,300 | 2,810 |
| Missouri | $38,560 | 3,310 |
| Kansas | $36,620 | 1,600 |
State median wages for legal secretaries and administrative assistants (SOC 43-6012), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for legal secretaries and administrative assistants
The BLS projects employment of legal secretaries and administrative assistants to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 5.2%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 157,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 149,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 18,100 openings a year for legal secretaries and administrative assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a legal secretary and administrative assistant
The typical entry-level education for legal secretaries and administrative assistants is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a legal secretary and administrative assistant earns
Employer, industry, seniority, and metro area drive pay. Large organizations and high cost cities pay above small offices and entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $99,280) and the lowest (Kansas, $36,620) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 156,280 people work as legal secretaries and administrative assistants in the United States. At $55,570 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Legal secretary and administrative assistant salary FAQ
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a legal secretary and administrative assistant is $26.72. The middle half of legal secretaries and administrative assistants earn between $21.37 and $34.60 per hour.
What is the highest legal secretary and administrative assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of legal secretaries and administrative assistants earn more than $91,730 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for a legal secretary and administrative assistant is $55,570. The average (mean) wage of $60,620 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a legal secretary and administrative assistant a well paid job?
At $55,570 a year, a legal secretary and administrative assistant earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 156,280 people work as legal secretaries and administrative assistants in the United States.
Which state pays legal secretaries and administrative assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for legal secretaries and administrative assistants at $99,280 a year. New York ($72,230) and Connecticut ($66,220) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a legal secretary and administrative assistant a good career?
Employment of legal secretaries and administrative assistants is projected to shrink 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 18,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a legal secretary and administrative assistant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for legal secretaries and administrative assistants as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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