SalaryByCity

Carpenters vs Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Carpenters

$59,310

Median annual salary

697,740 employed nationally

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

$46,290

Median annual salary

1,737,820 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Carpenters professionals earn $13,020 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 28.1% higher. At the 90th percentile, Carpenters earns $98,370 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Carpenters$38,760 – $98,370
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$98,370

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileCarpentersSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$38,760$31,600+$7,160
25th Percentile$47,550$37,770+$9,780
Median (50th)$59,310$46,290+$13,020
75th Percentile$75,620$55,650+$19,970
90th Percentile$98,370$64,150+$34,220
Mean (Average)$64,040$47,640+$16,400

Employment Numbers

Carpenters

697,740

employed nationwide

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Carpenters

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$80,950
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$78,090
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$77,100
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$76,760
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI$76,510

Best Cities for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$61,190
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$60,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$58,310
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$56,060
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT$53,960

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Carpenters or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Carpenters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $13,020 (28.1% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Carpenters?
Carpenters salaries range from $38,760 (10th percentile) to $98,370 (90th percentile), with a median of $59,310.
What is the salary range for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salaries range from $31,600 (10th percentile) to $64,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $46,290.
How many Carpenters and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 697,740 Carpenters positions and 1,737,820 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive to Carpenters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Carpenters has a median salary of $59,310 while Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earns $46,290. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS