If you work directly with executives, ask for a higher salary.
Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics puts executive assistants in the same category as other administrative staff, executive assistants are often more educated than general secretaries. According to the Bureau, executive assistants and secretaries are increasingly expected to have college degrees. To make yourself a particularly attractive candidate, get a degree related to the industry that interests you. According to Bureau data, executive assistants generally make more than general secretaries, so the investment pays off.
General Salary Information
According to 2010 information from the Bureau, executive assistants can make anywhere between $28,740 and $67,000 annually. That works out to an hourly wage between $13.82 and $32.21 per hour. If you're entry-level, a competitive salary falls at the lower end of the scale. According to PayScale information from 2011, executive assistants with less than one year of experience make between $24,487 and $45,460. Aim for around $30,000 per year, or $14.50 hourly. If you have between five and nine years of experience, you should expect to earn within the $32,372 to $61,657 range, according to PayScale. Pushing for the mean wage offered to executive assistants -- $22.05 per hour or $45,860 per year, according to 2010 Bureau information -- makes sense at this more experienced stage of your career. If you have more than nine years of experience, negotiate a high-$20 to low-$30 per hour wage.
In Comparison
While executive secretaries make between $13.82 and $32.21 per hour, general secretaries start lower and don't see the same late-career earning potential. According to 2010 Bureau information, general secretaries, such as front desk or school administrative staff, earn between $9.47 and $22.32 hourly. If you have responsibilities that involve direct interaction with executives and you're earning a general secretary's wages, consider using PayScale and Bureau information to support your argument for a raise.
High-Paying States
What's considered a competitive executive assistant salary varies based on where you live. While the mean hourly wage is $22.05 when pay information from across the country is averaged, some states have higher hourly salaries than others. For example, average pay jumps to about $26.50 per hour if you live in New Jersey or New York. You can also expect a bit more if you live in Maryland, Connecticut or Massachusetts. Averages are just over $25.00 per hour in Maryland and Connecticut, while executive assistants in Massachusetts make $24.71 per hour.
High-Paying Industries
Salaries also vary by industry, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are relatively few positions in the postal service, but executive assistants in this sector make much more than average, boasting a mean wage of $29.49 per hour. The computer manufacturing sector comes second in the list of top-paying industries. Executive assistants working at these companies earn $28.57 per hour. Those who work in government jobs and support executives in the financial sector also earn well, with executive secretaries in both settings making over $27.00 hourly.
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