Administrative assistant pay in Washington, DC
Administrative assistants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a typical $53,660 a year. The middle half earn $44,750 to $64,090, and the top 10% earn more than $79,660. About 37,010 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive, SOC 43-6014).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $37,890 |
| 25th percentile | $44,750 |
| Median (typical) | $53,660 |
| 75th percentile | $64,090 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $79,660 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 10 of 49 large metros for administrative assistants before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $53,660, a single filer keeps about $43,200 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and D.C. state income tax. Prices in Washington are 9% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $39,700 would in a typical US city. That ranks Washington No. 23 of 49 large metros for administrative assistants after cost of living.
Where administrative assistants’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$62,940 typical · worth $46.1k
- Seattle, WA$60,230 typical · worth $45.5k
- Hartford, CT$55,940 typical · worth $44.3k
- Boston, MA$59,330 typical · worth $43.5k
All 49 metros for administrative assistants →
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a administrative assistant make in Washington, DC?
The typical (median) administrative assistant in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earns $53,660 a year. The middle half earn between $44,750 and $64,090, and the top 10% earn more than $79,660. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a administrative assistant in Washington?
Anything above $53,660 pays more than half of administrative assistants in Washington. $64,090 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $79,660 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a administrative assistant in Washington take home after taxes?
At the typical $53,660, a single filer keeps about $43,200 a year ($3,600 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, D.C. state income tax. With local prices 9% above the US average, that buys what $39,700 would in a typical US city.
Where do administrative assistants get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 49 largest US metros, typical administrative assistant pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, Seattle, WA, Hartford, CT. Washington, DC ranks No. 23.
More: Administrative assistant pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Washington, DC
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.