Lawyer vs Administrative Assistant Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Lawyer
$134,712/yr median(+$87,700 · 186.5% more)
Higher pay
Lawyer
Median$134,712
Mean$160,797
10th %ile$74,576
25th %ile$97,600
75th %ile$191,969
90th %ile$286,051
Employed755K+
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
Lawyer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,576 |
| 25th percentile | $97,600 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $134,712 |
| 75th percentile | $191,969 |
| 90th percentile | $286,051 |
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
Lawyer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $207,860 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| 3 | California | $195,080 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| 5 | Delaware | $173,510 |
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, Lawyer or Administrative Assistant?
- Lawyer pays more with a median salary of $134,712/year, which is 186.5% more than Administrative Assistant at $47,012/year.
- What is the salary difference between Lawyer and Administrative Assistant?
- The median salary difference is $87,700/year (186.5%).