Salaries › Administrative Assistant › California
Administrative Assistant Salary in California (2026)
$26.64 per hour · take-home ≈ $45,167/year ($3,764/month) for a single filer
Administrative Assistant pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $38,060 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,390 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $55,400 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $65,400 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $78,170 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 158,630 Administrative Assistant jobs in California (occupation code 43-6014, “Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Administrative Assistant salary of $55,400 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $45,167 — an effective tax rate of 18.5%.
| Gross (median) | $55,400 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,468 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,238 |
| California state income tax | −$1,526 |
| Take-home (annual) | $45,167 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,764 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Administrative Assistant make in California?
- The median Administrative Assistant salary in California is $55,400 per year ($26.64 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,390 and $65,400.
- What is the take-home pay for a Administrative Assistant in California?
- On the median salary of $55,400, a single filer in California takes home about $45,167 per year ($3,764 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.5%.
- How many Administrative Assistant jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 158,630 Administrative Assistant jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Administrative Assistants
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.