Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistant's pay go, state by state?
A Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistant's pay leaves the most room in District of Columbia — about $6,576/mo take-home against $1,900/mo typical rent — and the least in Kentucky.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $6,576/mo | $1,900/mo | 29% |
| Nevada | $4,225/mo | $1,478/mo | 35% |
| Illinois | $3,867/mo | $1,246/mo | 32% |
| New York | $4,221/mo | $1,621/mo | 38% |
| Michigan | $3,610/mo | $1,072/mo | 30% |
| Rhode Island | $3,756/mo | $1,289/mo | 34% |
| Delaware | $3,784/mo | $1,321/mo | 35% |
| Maryland | $4,099/mo | $1,683/mo | 41% |
| Georgia | $3,718/mo | $1,320/mo | 36% |
| Oregon | $3,802/mo | $1,431/mo | 38% |
| Minnesota | $3,575/mo | $1,230/mo | 34% |
| Connecticut | $3,739/mo | $1,483/mo | 40% |
| New Jersey | $3,899/mo | $1,656/mo | 42% |
| North Dakota | $3,096/mo | $911/mo | 29% |
| Pennsylvania | $3,305/mo | $1,176/mo | 36% |
| Alaska | $3,463/mo | $1,361/mo | 39% |
| Ohio | $3,049/mo | $986/mo | 32% |
| Oklahoma | $3,032/mo | $970/mo | 32% |
| Mississippi | $2,946/mo | $933/mo | 32% |
| Maine | $3,095/mo | $1,104/mo | 36% |
| West Virginia | $2,818/mo | $848/mo | 30% |
| Nebraska | $2,978/mo | $1,017/mo | 34% |
| Wisconsin | $2,992/mo | $1,033/mo | 35% |
| Washington | $3,598/mo | $1,641/mo | 46% |
| Hawaii | $3,873/mo | $1,927/mo | 50% |
| California | $3,904/mo | $1,969/mo | 50% |
| Vermont | $3,102/mo | $1,207/mo | 39% |
| Wyoming | $2,864/mo | $979/mo | 34% |
| Missouri | $2,878/mo | $997/mo | 35% |
| Arizona | $3,286/mo | $1,419/mo | 43% |
| New Mexico | $2,897/mo | $1,034/mo | 36% |
| Montana | $2,869/mo | $1,031/mo | 36% |
| Idaho | $2,993/mo | $1,163/mo | 39% |
| Colorado | $3,485/mo | $1,659/mo | 48% |
| New Hampshire | $3,235/mo | $1,424/mo | 44% |
| Alabama | $2,742/mo | $967/mo | 35% |
| Indiana | $2,723/mo | $1,022/mo | 38% |
| Kansas | $2,718/mo | $1,025/mo | 38% |
| Iowa | $2,613/mo | $932/mo | 36% |
| Tennessee | $2,788/mo | $1,111/mo | 40% |
| North Carolina | $2,809/mo | $1,147/mo | 41% |
| Texas | $2,972/mo | $1,328/mo | 45% |
| South Dakota | $2,538/mo | $910/mo | 36% |
| Massachusetts | $3,315/mo | $1,716/mo | 52% |
| South Carolina | $2,703/mo | $1,131/mo | 42% |
| Virginia | $3,116/mo | $1,547/mo | 50% |
| Florida | $3,039/mo | $1,542/mo | 51% |
| Arkansas | $2,399/mo | $903/mo | 38% |
| Louisiana | $2,489/mo | $1,028/mo | 41% |
| Utah | $2,813/mo | $1,396/mo | 50% |
| Kentucky | $2,329/mo | $918/mo | 39% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.