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Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Salary in North Carolina: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary really buy you in North Carolina?

North Carolina is 5.8% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$70,140
Median annual (2025)
+6.2%
Real Purchasing Power
$74,458
COL-adjusted (RPP=94.2)

North Carolina Cost of Living Index

North Carolina's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 94.2, meaning prices are 5.8% lower the national average. A Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants earning $70,140 in North Carolina has the equivalent purchasing power of $74,458 in an average-cost US state.

NC: 94.2
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $49,720 $52,781 +$3,061
25th Percentile (P25) $58,480 $62,080 +$3,600
Median (P50) $70,140 $74,458 +$4,318
75th Percentile (P75) $83,260 $88,386 +$5,126
90th Percentile (P90) $99,710 $105,849 +$6,139
Key Insight

A Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in North Carolina earns $70,140 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 6% further — like earning $74,458 in an average-cost state. This makes North Carolina one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

North Carolina Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 94.2

With an RPP of 94.2, North Carolina is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+6.2%

After applying North Carolina's RPP, the $70,140 median salary translates to $74,459 in real terms — a 6.2% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#16 / 51

North Carolina sits at #16 of 51 states for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (After Cost of Living)

Where does Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$82,279
RPP 108.8
$81,197
RPP 91.0
$80,530
RPP 98.0
$80,317
RPP 97.7
$79,111
RPP 112.5
6. Alabama
$79,100
RPP 87.8
$78,677
RPP 102.1
$78,243
RPP 96.2
$77,915
RPP 116.6
$77,556
RPP 106.4

North Carolina ranks #16 out of 51 states for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants take-home pay in North Carolina after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in North Carolina after cost of living?

A Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in North Carolina earns a median salary of $70,140 per year. After adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (RPP=94.2), the real purchasing power is $74,458 — a +6.2% difference.

Is North Carolina expensive to live in?

North Carolina's cost of living is 5.8% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for North Carolina is 94.2 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in North Carolina: $70,140 x (100 / 94.2) = $74,458. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in North Carolina financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants in North Carolina enjoys 6.2% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.

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