Lawyers 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?
Lawyers professionals earn $104,870 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 226.6% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Lawyers$72,780 – N/A
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$72,780
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Lawyers | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $72,780 | $31,600 | +$41,180 |
| 25th Percentile | $99,760 | $37,770 | +$61,990 |
| Median (50th) | $151,160 | $46,290 | +$104,870 |
| 75th Percentile | $215,420 | $55,650 | +$159,770 |
| 90th Percentile | N/A | $64,150 | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $182,760 | $47,640 | +$135,120 |
Employment Numbers
Lawyers
747,750
employed nationwide
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
1,737,820
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Lawyers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $215,090 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $205,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $203,450 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $194,740 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $191,880 |
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: Lawyers or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Lawyers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $104,870 (226.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Lawyers?
Lawyers salaries range from $72,780 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $151,160.
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 Lawyers and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 747,750 Lawyers 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 Lawyers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Lawyers has a median salary of $151,160 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