Salary comparison
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants: Santa Fe vs Washington
Washington, DC pays about 10.9% more for executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants on paper — $90,320 vs $81,410. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Washington comes out ahead by $8,910 a year in real buying power.
Santa Fe, NM
$81,410
$72,530
$89,440
$39.14
100
$81,410/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Washington, DC
$90,320
$75,300
$102,340
$43.42
100
$90,320/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $8,910 a year (10.9%) in favor of Washington. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Santa Fe runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Washington sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Washington is the better deal by $8,910 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Fe to Washington for this role, the raise needs to beat 10.9% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants earn more, Santa Fe or Washington?
Washington pays $90,320 on median — about 10.9% more than Santa Fe ($81,410). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Washington. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Washington gives you roughly$90,320 of real buying power versus $81,410 in the other city.