Executive Assistant salary in Columbus, OH
No other area in Ohio pays executive assistants more than Columbus: the median is $75,880 a year1. That is 9.0% above the Ohio statewide median of $69,600, and about level with the US median of $76,590. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#60 of 509). It is the largest market for the job in Ohio: about 3,250 people, 30% of the Ohio total.
BLS occupation 43-6011, area Columbus, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbus against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $52,580 | $75,880 | $108,080 | |
| Ohio | $47,480 | $69,600 | $99,330 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
The middle half of executive assistants in Columbus earns $64,400–$94,330. The top tenth earns $108,080 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.2 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $29,930 wide, between the figure for Ohio ($24,820) and the US figure ($33,000).
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 | $52,580 | $4,382 | $25.28 | $67,845 |
| 25th percentile | $64,400 | $5,367 | $30.96 | $83,097 |
| Median | $75,880 | $6,323 | $36.48 | $97,910 |
| 75th percentile | $94,330 | $7,861 | $45.35 | $121,716 |
| 90th percentile | $108,080 | $9,007 | $51.96 | $139,458 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $18,450 over the median, the 25th only $11,480 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $23,806 a year in employer cost. 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 Columbus, and the Ohio statewide median of $69,600 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Columbus
At the $75,880 median, a local hire costs about $97,910 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,030 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 $97,910 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 6.8 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 Columbus
Of the 17 roles we track in Columbus, this one ranks #4 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($77,010) and recruiters ($75,440). Project Coordinator is the highest at $98,660.
| Role | Median | vs executive assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountant | +7.7% | 11,410 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +1.5% | 5,880 | |
| Executive Assistant | this role | 3,250 | |
| Recruiter | -0.6% | 7,740 | |
| Office Manager | -11.7% | 9,480 |
Measured against the US median, executive assistants rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in Columbus (-0.9%), between recruiters (-0.7%) and marketing specialists (-2.2%). The typical role here is at -0.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Executive assistants hold 3.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Columbus, 2.1% across Ohio and 2.9% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 16 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $57,970 in Springfield to $75,880 in Columbus, a gap of $17,910 a year. No other area in Ohio has as many executive assistants, and all 15 others pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | this area | 3,250 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | -6.5% | 1,830 | |
| Cleveland, OH | -9.6% | 2,170 | |
| Toledo, OH | -13.2% | 500 | |
| Akron, OH | -14.0% | 660 | |
| Sandusky, OH | -14.2% | 60 | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | -15.6% | 190 |
Columbus against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbus is #26 of 506 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Ohio, El Centro and Norwich-New London pay just above Columbus and Oshkosh-Neenah and Bremerton-Silverdale just below. All four are within $370 a year of the median in Columbus. Of the three markets with about as many executive assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbus | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +15.9% | 3,530 | jobs | |
| Norwich-New London, CT | +0.5% | 330 | pay | |
| El Centro, CA | +0.2% | 70 | pay | |
| Columbus, OH | this area | 3,250 | ||
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | -0.0% | 140 | pay | |
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | -0.1% | 250 | pay | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | -1.5% | 3,400 | jobs | |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL | -14.7% | 3,140 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in Columbus, OH?
About $97,910 a year at the median, or $8,159 a month: $75,880 in pay plus about $22,030 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for executive assistants in Columbus?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $75,880 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $52,580, the 90th $108,080, and the middle half earned $64,400 to $94,330.
Is Columbus the most expensive area in Ohio for executive assistants?
Yes. Its median of $75,880 is the highest of 16 areas in Ohio. Cincinnati comes next at $70,980.
How many executive assistants work in Columbus?
BLS counts about 3,250 in the May 2025 survey. That is 30% of the Ohio total of 10,940. No other area in Ohio has as many.
Does an executive assistant cost more than a recruiter in Columbus?
Yes: $440 a year more at the median. The medians are $75,880 and $75,440.
What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with Columbus?
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 $97,910 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.