Financial Managers 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.
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
$46,290
Median annual salary
1,737,820 employed nationally
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $115,410 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 249.3% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$86,490
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Financial Managers | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $86,490 | $31,600 | +$54,890 |
| 25th Percentile | $118,360 | $37,770 | +$80,590 |
| Median (50th) | $161,700 | $46,290 | +$115,410 |
| 75th Percentile | $214,210 | $55,650 | +$158,560 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $64,150 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $180,470 | $47,640 | +$132,830 |
Employment Numbers
Financial Managers
818,620
employed nationwide
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
1,737,820
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Best Cities for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| 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: Financial Managers or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $115,410 (249.3% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
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 Financial Managers and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 818,620 Financial Managers 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 Financial Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Financial Managers has a median salary of $161,700 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