Hire Assistant Near Me research · 2026-08-04
Administrative assistant wage benchmark: what the latest U.S. data can and cannot tell a small business
Use the latest BLS wage figures as labor-market context, then separate the online work that may fit a Philippines-based assistant from duties that need local presence.
Key stats
Key takeaways
- A U.S. wage median is a labor-market reference, not a quote for a remote staffing arrangement.
- Executive, legal, medical, and general administrative work have different wage benchmarks.
- The first hiring decision should be based on task location, access, review time, and approval rules.
Read the wage figure in context
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a $47,460 median annual wage for secretaries and administrative assistants in May 2024. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,840 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $76,550. These are U.S. employee wage figures. They do not set the price, contract terms, or management cost of a Philippines-based remote arrangement.
The occupation label hides different work
BLS reported a $74,260 median for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants, $54,140 for legal secretaries and administrative assistants, $44,640 for medical secretaries and administrative assistants, and $46,290 for other secretaries and administrative assistants. A role brief should name the actual tasks and the judgment required instead of relying on the word assistant.
Turn the benchmark into a hiring brief
Keep paper files, walk-in reception, local errands, and physical room preparation in a local lane. Online work such as inbox sorting, calendar preparation, CRM cleanup, research notes, and follow-up can fit a remote lane when the tools, examples, work hours, and stop rules are explicit. Review a small batch before expanding access.
Published benchmark beside the planning question
| Measure | Published context | Planning question |
|---|---|---|
| General administrative median | $47,460 annual median, May 2024 | Which repeatable tasks make up this role? |
| Executive administrative median | $74,260 annual median, May 2024 | Does the role require judgment or sensitive access? |
| Remote-work context | 35% did some or all work at home on days worked in 2025 | Which tasks can run in shared online tools? |
| Physical presence | Not measured by this wage table | Which duties must stay local? |