What does a PA earn? Here’s everything you need to know

As the leading EA recruitment agency in New York and beyond, we’ve worked with thousands of individuals in EA jobs. From start-ups to global corporations, finance to creative industries, we’ve seen the whole range of job specs, giving us unrivaled insights into salaries across the market. So, whatever the job may look like, we can give you the best advice on what to expect of an executive assistant’s salary.

What is an executive assistant?

Executive assistants can be found in every industry, performing a highly valued role. Whether they’re working with a business manager or an UHNWI in a private capacity, EAs are vital for making their principal’s working lives smooth and efficient.

Of course, the day-to-day life of an EA in the creative sector may look quite different to one in investment banking, but the core duties of a personal assistant remain the same:

• Work and personal diary management
• Being the point of contact on phone and email
• Travel and accommodation booking
• Booking meetings
• Preparing presentations and meeting materials
• Taking minutes of meetings

These time-sensitive and pressure-filled tasks favor assistants with a particular set of personality traits, such as clear communication, initiative, discretion and timekeeping. The best EAs have these traits in abundance and thrive in this fast-paced position. But that doesn’t mean they should be happy to do it for an uncompetitive salary!

How much do executive assistants make?

When it comes to the salary of an executive assistant, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, the salary will depend on the industry, the level of seniority, whether the role is remote or office-based, and whether it’s a corporate role or a private PA job.

Below you will find some guidelines on the most up-to-date executive assistant salaries in New York.

Executive assistant salary based on industry

Financial services and tech companies are known to be paying the highest salaries to EAs in the market. The salaries in these industries can typically range from $60,000-$90,000 per year.

In addition, these industries usually provide great benefits and bonuses for their employees.

The executive assistant salaries in the creative industry can range between $50,000-$80,000 per year, whilst the non-profit/charity, and education sectors pay between $50,000-$70,000 per year.

Private personal assistant salary

If being a private PA is your goal, expect to see quite a different range of salaries for this role. That’s because the pay will be affected by several factors, based on the principal’s requirements.

Some of these factors might be:

• If the role involves a lot of traveling
• If it requires 24/7 availability
• If it’s a traditional family office PA role

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but these requirements affect the salary bracket, meaning salaries for private PA roles can range from $80,000 to $300,000 per year.

A few more considerations…

It’s important to note that the executive assistant salary in New York will also be impacted by a few more factors:

• If the role is remote and you work for a New York-based company but live somewhere else in the US, the salary might be slightly lower than the average
• The salary can vary if the role requires five days in the office, as opposed to hybrid working
• If regular travel is expected in the role, the salary may not be increased, however, travel expenses will be paid for

If you’d like more information on EA salaries in London, you can request a copy of our Salary and Benefits Review.

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If you’re looking to hire a PA, read our ultimate guide to PA recruitment.

Author Alexandra-Dana Gusita Tiger Recruitment Team