Executive Assistant salary in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area
The Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for executive assistants: the median of $60,750 a year1 is 13.4% below the North Carolina statewide median of $70,140, and 20.7% below the US median of $76,590. Among US areas it comes in at #337 of 509. About 300 executive assistants work here, 3% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-6011, area Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | $41,240 | $60,750 | $89,070 | |
| North Carolina | $49,720 | $70,140 | $99,710 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
Executive assistants at the 90th percentile earn $89,070, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.2. The middle half of executive assistants in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area earns $50,240–$75,510. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $25,270 wide, between the figure for North Carolina ($24,780) 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 | $41,240 | $3,437 | $19.83 | $53,213 |
| 25th percentile | $50,240 | $4,187 | $24.15 | $64,826 |
| Median | $60,750 | $5,062 | $29.21 | $78,387 |
| 75th percentile | $75,510 | $6,292 | $36.30 | $97,432 |
| 90th percentile | $89,070 | $7,422 | $42.82 | $114,929 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $14,760 a year in pay and about $19,045 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $10,510 in pay. 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 75th and 90th percentiles in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area, and the North Carolina statewide median of $70,140 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local executive assistants earn.
What a hire really costs in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $17,637 to the $60,750 median and brings it to $78,387 a year. 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.
A local hire here costs about 5.4 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 6.5 times the remote figure of $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 the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between marketing specialists ($63,770) and office managers ($58,020). Project Coordinator is the highest at $94,390.
| Role | Median | vs executive assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | +5.5% | 970 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +5.0% | 720 | |
| Executive Assistant | this role | 300 | |
| Office Manager | -4.5% | 1,920 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -5.5% | 1,390 |
Measured against the US median, this job is the lowest paid of the 17 roles we track in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area (-20.7%); data entry specialists come first (-6.1%). The typical role here is at -13.2%, so, measured against the US, executive assistants cost less in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Executive assistants hold 1.4% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area, 1.7% across North Carolina and 2.9% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $49,720 in Goldsboro to $79,900 in Charlotte-Concord, a gap of $30,180 a year. Of the 6 areas in North Carolina with more executive assistants than the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the Western North Carolina nonmetro area ($58,980).
| Area | Median | vs the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | +3.6% | 340 | |
| Burlington, NC | +1.4% | 80 | |
| Jacksonville, NC | +1.0% | 40 | |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 300 | |
| Asheville, NC | -2.2% | 250 | |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | -2.5% | 250 | |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | -2.9% | 360 |
the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area is #177 of 506 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside North Carolina, Albany and Ocala pay just above the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area and Sioux City and Gulfport-Biloxi just below. All four are within $260 a year of the median in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many executive assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | +20.6% | 300 | jobs | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | +0.5% | 300 | jobs | |
| Ocala, FL | +0.4% | 130 | pay | |
| Albany, GA | +0.4% | 100 | pay | |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 300 | ||
| Sioux City, IA-NE | -0.1% | 120 | pay | |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | -0.2% | 140 | pay | |
| Monroe, LA | -20.5% | 300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro)?
About $78,387 a year at the median, or $6,532 a month: $60,750 in pay plus about $17,637 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do executive assistants earn in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area?
The median was $60,750 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $41,240, the 90th $89,070, and the middle half earned $50,240 to $75,510.
Is the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for executive assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $60,750 against $70,140 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Jacksonville at $61,360, the next down Asheville at $59,440.
How many executive assistants work in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the North Carolina total of 8,890. 6 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Wilmington, with about 340.
Does an executive assistant cost more than an office manager in the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,730 a year more at the median. The medians are $60,750 and $58,020.
What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area?
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 $78,387 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.