What does a Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary really buy you in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia is 16.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
District of Columbia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 116.6, meaning prices are 16.6% higher the national average. A Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive earning $54,790 in District of Columbia has the equivalent purchasing power of $46,989 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for District of Columbia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $39,270 | $33,679 | $-5,590 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $46,980 | $40,291 | $-6,688 |
| Median (P50) | $54,790 | $46,989 | $-7,800 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,170 | $55,034 | $-9,135 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $79,720 | $68,370 | $-11,349 |
While $54,790 sounds high, District of Columbia's elevated cost of living erases 14% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $46,989. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
District of Columbia ranks #8 out of 51 states for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive take-home pay in District of Columbia after taxes →
A Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in District of Columbia earns a median salary of $54,790 per year. After adjusting for District of Columbia's cost of living (RPP=116.6), the real purchasing power is $46,989 — a -14.2% difference.
District of Columbia's cost of living is 16.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for District of Columbia is 116.6 (US average = 100).
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.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in District of Columbia: $54,790 x (100 / 116.6) = $46,989. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive's nominal salary of $54,790 in District of Columbia has 14.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $46,989. However, District of Columbia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.