Cost of hiring an executive assistant in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $90,320 a year[1], about level with the District of Columbia median of $90,850 and 17.9% above the US median of $76,590. Only 4 of 509 US areas pay more for this job. About 12,960 executive assistants work here.
BLS occupation 43-6011, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $60,960 | $90,320 | $121,330 | |
| District of Columbia | $64,890 | $90,850 | $121,000 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
Executive assistants at the 90th percentile earn $121,330, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.2. The middle half of executive assistants in Washington-Arlington earns $75,300–$102,340. The mean ($90,110) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here.
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 | $60,960 | $5,080 | $29.31 | $87,086 |
| 25th percentile | $75,300 | $6,275 | $36.20 | $107,571 |
| Median | $90,320 | $7,527 | $43.42 | $129,029 |
| 75th percentile | $102,340 | $8,528 | $49.20 | $146,200 |
| 90th percentile | $121,330 | $10,111 | $58.33 | $173,329 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $12,020 a year in pay and about $17,171 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $15,020 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.
What a hire really costs in Washington-Arlington
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $38,709 to the $90,320 median and brings it to $129,029 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 $129,029 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 8.9 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 Washington-Arlington
Of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington, this one ranks #4 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs executive assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +40.6% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +13.1% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | +11.6% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | this role | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -3.5% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | -9.7% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -13.5% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | -15.4% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -29.8% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | -34.4% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -34.5% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -40.6% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -46.5% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -47.3% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -48.8% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -52.6% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -54.3% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $129,029 a year at the median, or $10,752 a month: $90,320 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 Washington-Arlington?
The median was $90,320 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $60,960, the 90th $121,330, and the middle half earned $75,300 to $102,340.
How many executive assistants work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 12,960 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an executive assistant cost more than a marketing specialist in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $3,160 a year more at the median. The medians are $90,320 and $87,160.
What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with Washington-Arlington?
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 $129,029 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 2026-11-06.