EN

Language

Search
CostAnswer

Explore

Language

MethodologyAbout

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Administrative Assistant Salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, administrative assistants earned a median annual wage of $59,400 ($28.56/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $39,100/year and the 90th was $83,500/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and District of Columbia tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $47,422 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 108.9 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$59,400$28.56 per hour · $4,950 monthly
10th Percentile$39,100$18.80/hr base
25th Percentile$46,900$22.55/hr base
75th Percentile$72,700$34.95/hr base
90th Percentile$83,500$40.14/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 payWhat $59,000 a year leaves after tax in District of ColumbiaFederal tax, FICA and District of Columbia withholding on that salary, with the other 49 states beside it.
By the hour$29 an hour is how much a yearWeekly, biweekly and monthly gross at 2,080 hours, plus time and a half.
HousingWhat a $59,000 salary buys at today's ratesPrice range, down payment and the monthly payment behind it, on current mortgage rates.
Local pricesWhat $59,000 is worth where you liveRent, groceries and the local price level against the national average.
Same stateEvery occupation District of Columbia publishes a wage forThe biggest employers, the best paid, and what is distinctive about District of Columbia.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$59,400
$20,000$120,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$59,400
Net 80%
Fed 8%
DC 4%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$47,422After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,952Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,824Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate20.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,948 / yr
District of Columbia state income tax$2,486 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,544 / yr
Customize deductions in full District of Columbia calculator

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Wage Percentiles in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (DC)
10th Percentile$18.80/hr$3,258$39,100$32,351
25th Percentile$22.55/hr$3,908$46,900$38,150
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$28.56/hr$4,950$59,400$47,422
75th Percentile$34.95/hr$6,058$72,700$56,624
90th Percentile$40.14/hr$6,958$83,500$63,350

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$59,400 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$126,684Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index108.98.9% above national average
Individual vs Household Ratio46.9%of area median income

Compare administrative assistants salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in District of Columbia:

Compare markets

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay in other District of Columbia metros

These metro areas are in the same state and closest in population to Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Compare their wage distributions before using a statewide average.

Frequently Asked Questions About Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

What is the median salary for administrative assistants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

The official BLS median annual wage for administrative assistants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $59,400, which equates to approximately $4,950 per month or $28.56 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for administrative assistants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

The median hourly wage for administrative assistants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $28.56 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.80/hour and one in ten earned more than $40.14/hour.

What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

BLS wage estimates for administrative assistants in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV span from $39,100 at the 10th percentile to $46,900 at the 25th, $72,700 at the 75th, and $83,500 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do administrative assistants take home after taxes in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

On a median gross salary of $59,400, an estimated $47,422 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,824 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in District of Columbia in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $11,978 (an effective rate of 20.2%).

How much do administrative assistants make per month in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

On the median annual salary of $59,400, gross monthly income is $4,950. After federal, FICA, and District of Columbia state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,952 per month (or $1,824 every two weeks).

Is $59,400 a good salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

At $59,400, the median salary for administrative assistants is 46.9% of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV median household income ($126,684). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 108.9, making regional consumer goods and services 8.9% more expensive than the U.S. average.