SalaryByCity

Industrial Engineers 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.

Industrial Engineers

$101,140

Median annual salary

350,230 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?

Industrial Engineers professionals earn $54,850 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 118.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Industrial Engineers earns $157,140 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Industrial Engineers$70,000 – $157,140
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$157,140

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileIndustrial EngineersSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$70,000$31,600+$38,400
25th Percentile$81,910$37,770+$44,140
Median (50th)$101,140$46,290+$54,850
75th Percentile$127,480$55,650+$71,830
90th Percentile$157,140$64,150+$92,990
Mean (Average)$107,900$47,640+$60,260

Employment Numbers

Industrial Engineers

350,230

employed nationwide

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

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Industrial Engineers

CityMedian
New Orleans-Metairie, LA$139,130
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$136,290
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$133,790
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$126,530
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$126,310

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: Industrial Engineers or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Industrial Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $54,850 (118.5% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Industrial Engineers?
Industrial Engineers salaries range from $70,000 (10th percentile) to $157,140 (90th percentile), with a median of $101,140.
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 Industrial Engineers and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 350,230 Industrial Engineers 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 Industrial Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Industrial Engineers has a median salary of $101,140 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