SalaryByCity

Childcare Workers 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.

Childcare Workers

$32,050

Median annual salary

520,180 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?

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals earn $14,240 more per year than Childcare Workers professionals — that's 44.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Childcare Workers earns $44,560 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Childcare Workers$22,900 – $44,560
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$22,900$64,150

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileChildcare WorkersSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$22,900$31,600$-8,700
25th Percentile$28,000$37,770$-9,770
Median (50th)$32,050$46,290$-14,240
75th Percentile$36,960$55,650$-18,690
90th Percentile$44,560$64,150$-19,590
Mean (Average)$33,140$47,640$-14,500

Employment Numbers

Childcare Workers

520,180

employed nationwide

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

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Childcare Workers

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$44,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,640
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$40,180
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$39,290
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$38,720

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: Childcare Workers or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $14,240 (44.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Childcare Workers?
Childcare Workers salaries range from $22,900 (10th percentile) to $44,560 (90th percentile), with a median of $32,050.
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 Childcare Workers and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 520,180 Childcare Workers 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 Childcare Workers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Childcare Workers has a median salary of $32,050 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