SalaryByCity

Accountants and Auditors vs Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Accountants and Auditors

$81,680

Median annual salary

1,448,290 employed nationally

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

$46,290

Median annual salary

1,737,820 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Accountants and Auditors professionals earn $35,390 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 76.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Accountants and Auditors earns $141,420 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Accountants and Auditors$52,780 – $141,420
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$141,420

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileAccountants and AuditorsSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$52,780$31,600+$21,180
25th Percentile$64,660$37,770+$26,890
Median (50th)$81,680$46,290+$35,390
75th Percentile$106,450$55,650+$50,800
90th Percentile$141,420$64,150+$77,270
Mean (Average)$93,520$47,640+$45,880

Employment Numbers

Accountants and Auditors

1,448,290

employed nationwide

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Accountants and Auditors

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$121,630
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$105,750
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$105,100
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$99,440
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,380

Best Cities for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$61,190
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$60,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,310
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$56,060
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT$53,960

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Accountants and Auditors or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Accountants and Auditors professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $35,390 (76.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Accountants and Auditors?
Accountants and Auditors salaries range from $52,780 (10th percentile) to $141,420 (90th percentile), with a median of $81,680.
What is the salary range for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salaries range from $31,600 (10th percentile) to $64,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $46,290.
How many Accountants and Auditors and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,448,290 Accountants and Auditors positions and 1,737,820 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive to Accountants and Auditors?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Accountants and Auditors has a median salary of $81,680 while Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earns $46,290. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS