Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Administrative Assistant Salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, administrative assistants earned a median annual wage of $59,300 ($28.51/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $42,500/year and the 90th was $80,300/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Massachusetts tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $47,183 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 108.3 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$59,300$28.51 per hour · $4,942 monthly
10th Percentile$42,500$20.43/hr base
25th Percentile$49,300$23.70/hr base
75th Percentile$65,800$31.63/hr base
90th Percentile$80,300$38.61/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$59,300
$20,000$120,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$59,300
Net 80%
Fed 8%
MA 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$47,183After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,932Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,815Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate20.4%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,936 / yr
Massachusetts state income tax$2,645 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,536 / yr

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Wage Percentiles in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (MA)
10th Percentile$20.43/hr$3,542$42,500$34,524
25th Percentile$23.70/hr$4,108$49,300$39,648
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$28.51/hr$4,942$59,300$47,183
75th Percentile$31.63/hr$5,483$65,800$52,080
90th Percentile$38.61/hr$6,692$80,300$61,626

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$59,300 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$115,863Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index108.38.3% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio51.2%of area median income

Compare administrative assistants salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Massachusetts:

Frequently Asked Questions About Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

What is the median salary for administrative assistants in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

The official BLS median annual wage for administrative assistants in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $59,300, which equates to approximately $4,942 per month or $28.51 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for administrative assistants in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

The median hourly wage for administrative assistants in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $28.51 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $20.43/hour and one in ten earned more than $38.61/hour.

What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

BLS wage estimates for administrative assistants in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH span from $42,500 at the 10th percentile to $49,300 at the 25th, $65,800 at the 75th, and $80,300 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do administrative assistants take home after taxes in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

On a median gross salary of $59,300, an estimated $47,183 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,815 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Massachusetts in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $12,117 (an effective rate of 20.4%).

How much do administrative assistants make per month in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

On the median annual salary of $59,300, gross monthly income is $4,942. After federal, FICA, and Massachusetts state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,932 per month (or $1,815 every two weeks).

Is $59,300 a good salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?

At $59,300, the median salary for administrative assistants is 51.2% of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH median household income ($115,863). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 108.3, making regional consumer goods and services 8.3% more expensive than the U.S. average.