Secretary and Administrative Assistant salary in California
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A secretary and administrative assistant in California earns a median of $55,400 a year ($26.63/hour equivalent), 16.5% above the national median of $47,540. California ranks #5 of 51 states. About 158,630 people do this job in California.
Take-home pay in California
At the California median, a single filer keeps about $44,610 a year after federal, FICA and California taxes — $1,716 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the California paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $2,130.77
- Federal income tax
- −$171.85
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$132.11
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$30.90
- California income tax
- −$52.44
- CA SDI
- −$27.70
- Take-home pay
- $1,715.78
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $55,400
- Federal
- $4,468
- FICA
- $4,238
- State + local
- $2,084
- Net
- $44,610
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 6.0%
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.
How California compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | District of Columbia | $59,910 |
| #2 | Massachusetts | $57,940 |
| #3 | Washington | $57,330 |
| #4 | Connecticut | $57,210 |
| #5 | California | $55,400 |
| #49 | Louisiana | $38,790 |
| #50 | Arkansas | $37,630 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $37,340 |
See the national secretary and administrative assistant salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (SOC 43-6014), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secretary and administrative assistant make in California?
The median salary is $55,400 a year and the average is $57,710 (BLS May 2025).
Is California a good state for secretaries and administrative assistants?
California ranks #5 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 17% above the national median of $47,540.
What is $55,400 after taxes in California?
About $44,610 a year ($1,716 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.