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Executive Assistant I Salary in the United States

How much does an Executive Assistant I make in the United States?

As of November 01, 2026, the average salary for an Executive Assistant I in the United States is $65,164 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, an Executive Assistant I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,601
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,416 to $72,721
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $50,362
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Key Factors That Influence Executive Assistant I Salaries

An Executive Assistant I's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Executive Assistant I Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Executive Assistant I's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Executive Assistant I (0-2 years): $65,164
  • Executive Assistant II (2-4 years): $72,595
  • Executive Assistant III (4-7 years): $87,366
  • Executive Assistant IV (7+ years): $101,293
  • Executive Assistant V (7-10 years): $118,373
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Executive Assistant I0-2 years$65,164
Executive Assistant II2-4 years$72,595
Executive Assistant III4-7 years$87,366
Executive Assistant IV7+ years$101,293
Executive Assistant V7-10 years$118,373

Top Paying Cities for Executive Assistant Is

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $82,191
  • San Francisco: $81,291
  • Oakland: $79,578

What Skills Can Increase an Executive Assistant I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Scheduling (Mentioned in 6.65% Job Postings): Scheduling is the process of arranging, controlling and optimizing work and workloads in a production process or manufacturing process.
  • Microsoft Excel (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet developed by Microsoft for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. It features calculation or computation capabilities, graphing tools, pivot tables, and a macro programming language called Visual Basic for Applications.
  • Catering (Mentioned in 1.11% Job Postings): Catering is the business of providing food service at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, hospital, pub, aircraft, cruise ship, park, festival, filming location or film studio.
Skills Demand Percentage
Scheduling 6.65%
Microsoft Excel 1.54%
Catering 1.11%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Executive Assistant I's salary.

  • Onboarding: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Onboarding $75,590
16%
Collaboration $73,635
13%
Innovation $72,332
11%

Executive Assistant I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Executive Assistant I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $72,727. While startup companies pay approximate $61,597.

Executive Assistant I Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $61,597
Growth Stage 51~500 $65,125
Established 501~5000 $70,225
Enterprise 5000+ $72,727

Executive Assistant I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Executive Assistant I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 44% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Executive Assistant positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Executive Assistant I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Executive Assistant I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$79,500$38.022%
Energy & Utilities$74,939$36.015%
Pharmaceuticals$74,287$36.014%
Healthcare$72,984$35.012%
Telecom$71,680$34.010%

Executive Assistant I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Executive Assistant I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on November 01, 2026
$57,416
Average $65,164/year
$72,721
$4,785
Average $5,430/month
$6,060
$1,104
Average $1,253/week
$1,398
$28
Average $31/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $72,721 $6,060 $1,398 $35
Average $65,164 $5,430 $1,253 $31
25th Percentile $57,416 $4,785 $1,104 $28

Executive Assistant I Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Executive Assistant I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Executive Assistant II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $72,595 - a projected growth of 11% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Executive Assistant I

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Executive Assistant I

Here are companies hiring for Executive Assistant I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Executive Assistant I

1. Where can an Executive Assistant I earn the most?

An Executive Assistant I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Executive Assistant I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Executive Assistant I is $82,191.

2. What is the highest pay for Executive Assistant I?

The highest pay for Executive Assistant I is $79,601.

3. What is the lowest pay for Executive Assistant I?

The lowest pay for Executive Assistant I is $50,362.

4. What are the responsibilities of Executive Assistant I?

Provides multi-faceted administrative support and assistance to ensure effective use of an executive's time and productive interactions with staff and the public. Handles a wide range of administrative and support tasks and independently initiates and implements processes to manage projects, information, and people. Manages the executive's schedule, meeting preparations, follow-up tasks, and complex travel arrangements. Conducts research and information gathering on behalf of the executive and prepares summaries and reports. Develops positive and strategic relationships at all levels of the organization. Uses discretion, judgment, and knowledge of the organization to facilitate the executive's activities and maintain confidentiality. May be responsible for directing and deploying support staff or other resources. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to an executive. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Executive Assistant I?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Executive Assistant I roles, with salaries approximately 22% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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