SalaryByCity

Mechanical 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.

Mechanical Engineers

$102,320

Median annual salary

286,760 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?

Mechanical Engineers professionals earn $56,030 more per year than Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive professionals — that's 121.0% higher. At the 90th percentile, Mechanical Engineers earns $161,240 compared to $64,150 for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive.

Salary Range Comparison

Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$31,600 – $64,150
$31,600$161,240

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileMechanical EngineersSecretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveDifference
10th Percentile$68,740$31,600+$37,140
25th Percentile$81,800$37,770+$44,030
Median (50th)$102,320$46,290+$56,030
75th Percentile$130,290$55,650+$74,640
90th Percentile$161,240$64,150+$97,090
Mean (Average)$110,080$47,640+$62,440

Employment Numbers

Mechanical Engineers

286,760

employed nationwide

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

1,737,820

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Mechanical Engineers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$147,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$145,640
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$128,660
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX$126,870
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$124,160

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: Mechanical Engineers or Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Mechanical Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $56,030 (121.0% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $68,740 (10th percentile) to $161,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,320.
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 Mechanical Engineers and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive jobs are there?
There are approximately 286,760 Mechanical 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 Mechanical Engineers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Mechanical Engineers has a median salary of $102,320 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