Accountant vs Administrative Assistant Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Accountant
$82,597/yr median(+$35,585 · 75.7% more)
Higher pay
Accountant
Median$82,597
Mean$90,112
10th %ile$55,126
25th %ile$66,613
75th %ile$106,014
90th %ile$134,991
Employed1.4M+
Administrative Assistant
Median$47,012
Mean$48,292
10th %ile$33,791
25th %ile$39,585
75th %ile$55,238
90th %ile$64,285
Employed1.7M+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Accountant
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,126 |
| 25th percentile | $66,613 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $82,597 |
| 75th percentile | $106,014 |
| 90th percentile | $134,991 |
Administrative Assistant
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,791 |
| 25th percentile | $39,585 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,012 |
| 75th percentile | $55,238 |
| 90th percentile | $64,285 |
Top Paying States
Accountant
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| 2 | New York | $102,640 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $100,830 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $97,550 |
Administrative Assistant
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $59,910 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $57,940 |
| 3 | Washington | $57,330 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $57,210 |
| 5 | California | $55,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Accountant or Administrative Assistant?
- Accountant pays more with a median salary of $82,597/year, which is 75.7% more than Administrative Assistant at $47,012/year.
- What is the salary difference between Accountant and Administrative Assistant?
- The median salary difference is $35,585/year (75.7%).
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