SalaryByCity

Project Management Specialists 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.

Project Management Specialists

$100,750

Median annual salary

1,006,160 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?

Project Management Specialists professionals earn $54,460 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 117.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Project Management Specialists earns $165,790 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Project Management Specialists$59,830 – $165,790
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$165,790

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileProject Management SpecialistsSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$59,830$31,600+$28,230
25th Percentile$76,950$37,770+$39,180
Median (50th)$100,750$46,290+$54,460
75th Percentile$131,660$55,650+$76,010
90th Percentile$165,790$64,150+$101,640
Mean (Average)$108,100$47,640+$60,460

Employment Numbers

Project Management Specialists

1,006,160

employed nationwide

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

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Project Management Specialists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$136,250
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$132,530
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$125,390
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$123,670
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$121,680

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: Project Management Specialists or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Project Management Specialists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $54,460 (117.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Project Management Specialists?
Project Management Specialists salaries range from $59,830 (10th percentile) to $165,790 (90th percentile), with a median of $100,750.
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 Project Management Specialists and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 1,006,160 Project Management Specialists 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 Project Management Specialists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Project Management Specialists has a median salary of $100,750 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