SalaryByCity

Civil Engineers 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.

Civil Engineers

$99,590

Median annual salary

355,410 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?

Civil Engineers professionals earn $53,300 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 115.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Civil Engineers earns $160,990 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Civil Engineers$65,920 – $160,990
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$160,990

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileCivil EngineersSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$65,920$31,600+$34,320
25th Percentile$78,790$37,770+$41,020
Median (50th)$99,590$46,290+$53,300
75th Percentile$128,290$55,650+$72,640
90th Percentile$160,990$64,150+$96,840
Mean (Average)$107,050$47,640+$59,410

Employment Numbers

Civil Engineers

355,410

employed nationwide

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

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Civil Engineers

CityMedian
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$130,310
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$129,260
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$126,560
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$109,250
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$108,010

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: Civil Engineers or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Civil Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $53,300 (115.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Civil Engineers?
Civil Engineers salaries range from $65,920 (10th percentile) to $160,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $99,590.
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 Civil Engineers and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 355,410 Civil Engineers 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 Civil Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Civil Engineers has a median salary of $99,590 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