SalaryByCity

Graphic Designers 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.

Graphic Designers

$61,300

Median annual salary

214,260 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?

Graphic Designers professionals earn $15,010 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 32.4% higher. At the 90th percentile, Graphic Designers earns $103,030 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Graphic Designers$37,600 – $103,030
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$103,030

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileGraphic DesignersSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$37,600$31,600+$6,000
25th Percentile$47,200$37,770+$9,430
Median (50th)$61,300$46,290+$15,010
75th Percentile$79,000$55,650+$23,350
90th Percentile$103,030$64,150+$38,880
Mean (Average)$68,610$47,640+$20,970

Employment Numbers

Graphic Designers

214,260

employed nationwide

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

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Graphic Designers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$98,530
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$89,490
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$82,630
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$82,360
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$78,000

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: Graphic Designers or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Graphic Designers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $15,010 (32.4% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Graphic Designers?
Graphic Designers salaries range from $37,600 (10th percentile) to $103,030 (90th percentile), with a median of $61,300.
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 Graphic Designers and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 214,260 Graphic Designers 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 Graphic Designers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Graphic Designers has a median salary of $61,300 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