Human Resources 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?
Human Resources Managers professionals earn $93,740 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 202.5% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Human Resources Managers$83,790 – N/A
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$83,790
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Human Resources Managers | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $83,790 | $31,600 | +$52,190 |
| 25th Percentile | $105,590 | $37,770 | +$67,820 |
| Median (50th) | $140,030 | $46,290 | +$93,740 |
| 75th Percentile | $189,960 | $55,650 | +$134,310 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $64,150 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $160,480 | $47,640 | +$112,840 |
Employment Numbers
Human Resources Managers
215,520
employed nationwide
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
1,737,820
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Human Resources Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $176,290 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $172,970 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $161,970 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $155,390 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $147,070 |
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: Human Resources Managers or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Human Resources Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $93,740 (202.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Human Resources Managers?
Human Resources Managers salaries range from $83,790 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $140,030.
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 Human Resources Managers and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 215,520 Human Resources 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 Human Resources Managers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Human Resources Managers has a median salary of $140,030 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