SOC 436012

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.

National Median

$54,140

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$54,140

Entry Level (10th pct)

$35,530

Experienced (90th pct)

$87,660

Total Employed

154,540

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$35,530 - $42,720
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$42,720 - $72,090
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$72,090 - $87,660

Highest Paying Locations for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

$106,130

+96.0% vs national

District of Columbia

$101,170

+86.9% vs national

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

$88,600

+63.6% vs national

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$81,210

+50.0% vs national

Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT

$75,620

+39.7% vs national

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$106,130	990
District of Columbia	$101,170	2,040
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$88,600	2,800
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$81,210	2,810
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$75,620	530
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$74,400	14,530
New York	$74,400	15,430
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$73,740	N/A
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$67,980	510
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$67,300	190
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$66,570	530
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$65,750	380
Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area	$64,840	110
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$64,010	2,520
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$63,970	1,830
Delaware	$63,740	970
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$63,580	1,870
Maryland	$63,110	1,410
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$63,080	1,020
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$62,630	2,960
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$62,480	200
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$62,320	340
Napa, CA	$62,250	30
Modesto, CA	$62,050	170
Rhode Island	$61,970	N/A
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$61,650	280
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$61,610	1,460
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$61,580	N/A
New Haven, CT	$61,440	190
Massachusetts	$61,440	3,880
Connecticut	$61,440	1,140
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$61,360	210
Vallejo, CA	$61,350	N/A
California	$61,320	23,960
Minnesota	$61,300	2,500
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$61,210	1,260
Fresno, CA	$61,150	420
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$61,090	710
Salinas, CA	$61,000	160
Springfield, MA	$60,750	120
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$60,560	N/A
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$60,450	1,200
Dover, DE	$60,430	90
New Jersey	$60,400	3,910
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$60,270	390
Greeley, CO	$60,250	N/A
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$60,180	2,690
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$60,100	7,020
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$59,990	1,250
Naples-Marco Island, FL	$59,850	110

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants?

The national median annual salary for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants is $54,140, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $106,130.

How much can an experienced Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants make?

Top-earning Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistantss (90th percentile) make $87,660 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.