What Is the Starting Salary for a Personal Assistant?
Personal assistants play an important role in the ongoing business and daily affairs of executives and other professionals throughout the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that over 1 million personal assistants were employed in various industries throughout the United States in 2010. Salaries for personal assistants can vary by location, industry and experience. Starting salaries for personal assistants tend to be toward the bottom of the pay scale.
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Starting Salaries
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average starting salary for executive administrative assistants was $45,860 as of May 2010. However, this figure takes into account the salaries of both inexperienced and experienced personal assistants. The median salary for those working in this field was $43,520 in 2010. The lower 25 percent of those working as personal assistants made $34,920 or less, while the lowest 10 percent made less than $28,740 per year. Starting salaries for personal assistants are most likely to fall into one of these two latter ranges, or at least be below the median salary. Exceptions to the rule can exist, however.
Earning Potential
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The earning potential in this field is substantially greater than the salaries earned by those at the bottom of the pay scale. This is not only evidenced by the median and average salaries, but also by the salaries earned by those in the upper end of the pay scale. For instance, the BLS notes that the upper 25 percent of those working in this field made salaries of $54,750 as of 2010, while the upper 10 percent made more than $67,000 per year. Some industries also pay higher-than-average salaries. For instance, personal assistants working for the federal government made an average of $57,840 per year in 2010.
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Location
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Location also provides some indication of how much the personal assistant can expect to make. According to the BLS, the highest-paying states in which to work in 2010 included New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Average salaries in these states exceeded $51,000 per year, indicating that starting salaries for personal assistants may be higher in these states. Those in Texas, Florida and Illinois made between $40,000 and $45,600 per year, indicating that starting salaries in these states were likely closer to the bottom of the national pay scale.
Job Outlook
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for personal assistants should remain steady through 2018. The bureau projects 11 percent job growth by 2018, over and above the number of available jobs in 2008. The bureau points out that growth will primarily occur in a number of other fast growing fields like the medical field, while job growth in some fields will be limited due to increased automation through technology and a lessened need for manpower.
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References
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