Executive Assistant salary in Ann Arbor, MI
For this job Ann Arbor sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $74,660 a year1. That is 11.7% above the Michigan statewide median of $66,840, and 2.5% below the US median of $76,590. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#77 of 509). About 430 executive assistants work here, 5% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 43-6011, area Ann Arbor, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Ann Arbor against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $51,830 | $74,660 | $104,960 | |
| Michigan | $47,810 | $66,840 | $99,400 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
Executive assistants at the 90th percentile earn $104,960, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.2. The middle half of executive assistants in Ann Arbor earns $64,120–$84,280. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $20,160 wide, against $23,480 across Michigan and $33,000 nationally: employers in Ann Arbor pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an executive assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,830 | $4,319 | $24.92 | $66,877 |
| 25th percentile | $64,120 | $5,343 | $30.83 | $82,735 |
| Median | $74,660 | $6,222 | $35.89 | $96,335 |
| 75th percentile | $84,280 | $7,023 | $40.52 | $108,748 |
| 90th percentile | $104,960 | $8,747 | $50.46 | $135,432 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $10,540 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,620, or about $12,413 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $76,590 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Ann Arbor, and the Michigan statewide median of $66,840 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Ann Arbor
At the $74,660 median, a local hire costs about $96,335 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $21,675 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open executive assistant roles pay $800–$1,100 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $96,335 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 6.6 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $11,988. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in Ann Arbor
Of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between sales development representatives ($75,310) and marketing specialists ($66,210). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,690.
| Role | Median | vs executive assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | +4.2% | 1,110 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +0.9% | 1,060 | |
| Executive Assistant | this role | 430 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -11.3% | 1,160 | |
| Office Manager | -13.1% | 1,330 |
Measured against the US median, executive assistants rank #13 of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor (-2.5%), between paralegals (-2.2%) and accountants (-4.3%). The typical role here is at +1.2%, so, measured against the US, executive assistants cost less in Ann Arbor than the area's general pay level would suggest. Executive assistants hold 2.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Ann Arbor, 2.2% across Michigan and 2.9% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $47,790 in the Mid Michigan nonmetro area to $77,060 in Midland, a gap of $29,270 a year. Of the 3 areas in Michigan with more executive assistants than Ann Arbor, 2 pay less: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($65,090) and Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($67,540).
| Area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, MI | +3.2% | 60 | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | +0.4% | 3,670 | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 430 | |
| Jackson, MI | -3.7% | 130 | |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | -5.0% | 250 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -9.5% | 810 | |
| Saginaw, MI | -9.5% | 140 |
Ann Arbor against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Ann Arbor is #128 of 506 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Michigan, Huntsville and Albany-Schenectady pay just above Ann Arbor and Visalia and Charlottesville just below. All four are within $290 a year of the median in Ann Arbor. Of the three markets with about as many executive assistants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +0.1% | 3,400 | pay | |
| Huntsville, AL | +0.1% | 440 | pay | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 430 | ||
| Visalia, CA | -0.3% | 240 | pay | |
| Charlottesville, VA | -0.4% | 320 | pay | |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | -12.4% | 430 | jobs | |
| Iowa City, IA | -16.0% | 430 | jobs | |
| Jackson, MS | -30.2% | 430 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in Ann Arbor, MI?
About $96,335 a year at the median, or $8,028 a month: $74,660 in pay plus about $21,675 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for executive assistants in Ann Arbor?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $74,660 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $51,830, the 90th $104,960, and the middle half earned $64,120 to $84,280.
Is Ann Arbor cheaper than the rest of Michigan for executive assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $74,660 against $66,840 statewide. The next area up in Michigan is Detroit-Warren at $74,950, the next down Jackson at $71,890.
How many executive assistants work in Ann Arbor?
BLS counts about 430 in the May 2025 survey. That is 5% of the Michigan total of 9,030. 3 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Lansing-East Lansing, with about 810.
Does an executive assistant cost more than a marketing specialist in Ann Arbor?
Yes: $8,450 a year more at the median. The medians are $74,660 and $66,210.
What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with Ann Arbor?
Our open roles pay $800–$1,100 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $14,488, against about $96,335 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.