Cost of hiring an executive assistant in New York-Newark, NY-NJ
New York-Newark is the most expensive place in New York to hire an executive assistant. The median is $83,840 a year[1], 4.0% above the New York statewide median of $80,640 and 9.5% above the US median of $76,590. Nationally that is #13 of 509 areas, in the top tenth. With about 76,950 executive assistants, no area in New York employs more.
BLS occupation 43-6011, area New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in New York-Newark against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | $63,320 | $83,840 | $124,970 | |
| New York | $61,420 | $80,640 | $122,440 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
Executive assistants at the 90th percentile earn $124,970, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.2. The middle half of executive assistants in New York-Newark earns $74,080–$102,020.
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 | $63,320 | $5,277 | $30.44 | $90,457 |
| 25th percentile | $74,080 | $6,173 | $35.62 | $105,829 |
| Median | $83,840 | $6,987 | $40.31 | $119,771 |
| 75th percentile | $102,020 | $8,502 | $49.05 | $145,743 |
| 90th percentile | $124,970 | $10,414 | $60.08 | $178,529 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $9,760 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $18,180, or about $25,971 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.
What a hire really costs in New York-Newark
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $35,931 to the $83,840 median and brings it to $119,771 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 $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $119,771 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 8.3 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 Telegram bot with a written and a voice English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff checks English on a live call before any client interview.
Other roles in New York-Newark
Of the 17 roles we track in New York-Newark, this one ranks #6 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $126,660 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $44,690.
| Role | Median | vs executive assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +51.1% | 68,910 | |
| Accountant | +26.0% | 111,930 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +19.9% | 79,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +11.8% | 91,680 | |
| Recruiter | +7.1% | 52,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | this role | 76,950 | |
| Office Manager | -3.7% | 95,180 | |
| Paralegal | -10.2% | 33,850 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -24.3% | 7,770 | |
| Bookkeeper | -27.7% | 77,010 | |
| HR Assistant | -32.2% | 7,640 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -38.6% | 122,680 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -40.9% | 125,570 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -41.3% | 52,640 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -43.0% | 4,120 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -45.9% | 10,110 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -46.7% | 74,190 |
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $66,990 in Utica-Rome to $83,840 in New York-Newark, a gap of $16,850 a year.
| Area | Median | vs New York-Newark | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | this area | 76,950 | |
| Syracuse, NY | -8.9% | 2,120 | |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | -10.7% | 2,870 | |
| Kingston, NY | -10.8% | 370 | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | -10.9% | 3,400 | |
| Elmira, NY | -11.4% | 150 | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | -11.4% | 1,710 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in New York-Newark, NY-NJ?
About $119,771 a year at the median, or $9,981 a month: $83,840 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do executive assistants earn in New York-Newark?
The median was $83,840 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $63,320, the 90th $124,970, and the middle half earned $74,080 to $102,020.
Is New York-Newark the most expensive area in New York for executive assistants?
Yes. Its median of $83,840 is the highest of 16 areas in New York. Syracuse comes next at $76,350.
How many executive assistants work in New York-Newark?
BLS counts about 76,950 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an executive assistant cost more than an office manager in New York-Newark?
Yes: $3,080 a year more at the median. The medians are $83,840 and $80,760.
What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with New York-Newark?
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 $119,771 for a local hire at the median.
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. Last updated 2026-11-05.