Executive Assistant salary and cost of hiring in California
The median executive assistant in California earned $89,000 a year in May 2025[1], 16.2% above the US median of $76,590. That puts California at #3 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-6011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $58,060 | $89,000 | $130,510 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
The middle half of executive assistants in California earns $72,110–$107,090; the top tenth earns $130,510 or more, 2.2 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the California median that makes about $127,143 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 90-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
Pay by metro area in California
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $133,640 | 5,300 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $127,280 | 11,250 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $114,010 | 490 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $107,100 | 3,530 | |
| Vallejo, CA | $102,590 | 230 | |
| Napa, CA | $102,450 | 180 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $101,330 | 4,510 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $101,320 | 260 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,850 | 20,850 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $100,370 | 460 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $100,150 | 740 | |
| Merced, CA | $96,520 | 150 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $99,760 | 310 | |
| Salinas, CA | $98,290 | 360 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $94,750 | 500 | |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $99,880 | 270 | |
| Yuba City, CA | $91,210 | 130 | |
| Modesto, CA | $87,820 | 520 | |
| Fresno, CA | $91,010 | 880 | |
| El Centro, CA | $93,140 | 70 | |
| Chico, CA | $91,060 | 170 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $94,870 | 160 | |
| Visalia, CA | $94,550 | 240 | |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $90,540 | 240 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $88,550 | 4,140 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $92,430 | 650 | |
| Redding, CA | $88,370 | 250 | |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $83,510 | 70 |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA pays the most ($106,220) and Hanford-Corcoran, CA the least ($64,470): $41,750 a year apart for the same job.
What an executive assistant does
An executive assistant takes the founder's or a senior manager's admin load: inbox, calendar, travel, reports and follow-ups, so the executive spends time on decisions instead of logistics.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | +2.1% | |
| New Jersey | +0.6% | |
| California | +0.0% | |
| Massachusetts | -7.1% | |
| Connecticut | -7.3% |
Questions
How much does an executive assistant earn in California?
The median was $89,000 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $72,110 to $107,090.
What does it cost to employ an executive assistant in California?
About $127,143 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in California do executive assistants earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $106,220 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes436011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Data checked 2026-10-16.