Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A legal secretary and administrative assistant earns a median of $55,570 a year ($26.72 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $60,620. About 156,280 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $55,570
- Gross pay
- $2,137.31
- Federal income tax
- −$172.63
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$132.51
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$30.99
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,801.17
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $55,570
- Federal
- $4,488
- FICA
- $4,251
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $46,830
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $99,280 | $93,590 | 1,940 |
| New York | $72,230 | $74,870 | 9,800 |
| Connecticut | $66,220 | $69,970 | 1,090 |
| Delaware | $66,130 | $68,010 | 980 |
| Minnesota | $63,180 | $69,660 | 2,410 |
| New Jersey | $63,080 | $64,150 | 4,160 |
| Rhode Island | $63,020 | $63,670 | 390 |
| California | $62,860 | $74,860 | 27,470 |
| Massachusetts | $62,120 | $66,460 | 4,020 |
| Maryland | $61,440 | $63,410 | 1,670 |
| Alaska | $61,280 | $60,560 | 660 |
| Oregon | $59,610 | $63,550 | 1,590 |
| Colorado | $59,490 | $65,740 | 2,030 |
| Washington | $58,360 | $63,570 | 3,950 |
| New Mexico | $57,800 | $57,370 | 1,400 |
| Michigan | $56,870 | $57,090 | 3,580 |
| Nevada | $56,470 | $58,610 | 1,430 |
| Wisconsin | $55,410 | $56,590 | 1,210 |
| Virginia | $55,320 | $62,940 | 2,380 |
| Arizona | $55,120 | $58,860 | 2,600 |
| North Dakota | $53,540 | $53,670 | 360 |
| Utah | $52,860 | $56,980 | 940 |
| South Carolina | $52,840 | $52,270 | 2,280 |
| Illinois | $52,790 | $60,790 | 8,030 |
| New Hampshire | $51,830 | $57,710 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,430 | $53,390 | 6,230 |
| Ohio | $51,080 | $53,970 | 4,360 |
| Hawaii | $49,460 | $55,930 | 680 |
| Vermont | $49,090 | $52,210 | — |
| Florida | $48,510 | $55,420 | 10,920 |
| Georgia | $48,460 | $52,480 | 3,260 |
| Louisiana | $48,050 | $51,040 | 2,460 |
| Maine | $48,040 | $51,010 | 860 |
| South Dakota | $47,790 | $47,760 | 560 |
| Indiana | $47,740 | $52,620 | 2,670 |
| West Virginia | $46,960 | $45,790 | 1,200 |
| Wyoming | $46,960 | $50,430 | 280 |
| Iowa | $46,590 | $48,800 | 1,120 |
| Alabama | $45,950 | $47,620 | 1,840 |
| Oklahoma | $45,950 | $46,280 | 1,290 |
| Texas | $45,940 | $54,180 | 13,380 |
| Nebraska | $45,800 | $46,850 | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $45,340 | $49,450 | 2,980 |
| Mississippi | $45,140 | $45,300 | 820 |
| North Carolina | $43,720 | $46,960 | 3,780 |
| Idaho | $41,880 | $44,740 | 420 |
| Arkansas | $41,410 | $43,660 | 610 |
| Kentucky | $39,300 | $42,700 | 2,810 |
| Missouri | $38,560 | $46,610 | 3,310 |
| Kansas | $36,620 | $40,020 | 1,600 |
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BLS occupation: Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 43-6012). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $26.72; the average is $29.14.
Which state pays legal secretaries and administrative assistants the most?
District of Columbia ($99,280 median), followed by New York and Connecticut.
What is the salary range for a legal secretary and administrative assistant?
The bottom 10% earn under $36,500 and the top 10% earn over $91,730 a year.
How much is $55,570 after taxes?
About $46,830 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $44,734 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.