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Salary Comparison

Accountant vs Administrative Assistant Salary

Accountants earn approximately 44.3% more than Administrative Assistants nationally — $79,000 vs $44,000.

Accountant
$79,000
national median annual
Hourly (40 hr × 52 wk)
$38
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$3,038
Monthly
$6,583
Category
Finance
Administrative Assistant
$44,000
national median annual
Hourly (40 hr × 52 wk)
$21
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$1,692
Monthly
$3,667
Category
Business
Difference
Annual difference
Administrative Assistant earn less than Accountant
-$35,000
Percentage difference
−44.3%
Hourly difference
-$17/hour
Monthly difference
-$2,917/month
Lifetime difference (40-yr career)
Naive — doesn't include compounding raises
-$1,400,000
Reverse
→ Administrative Assistant vs Accountant — see this comparison from the other direction

Accountant vs Administrative Assistant: salary breakdown

On a national-median basis, Accountants out-earn Administrative Assistants by $35,000 per year — a 44.3% gap. That works out to roughly $2,917/month or $17/hour of difference.

Important context: these are MEDIANS — the middle salary in the country. Real-world variation is wide: entry-level roles in either career may pay 25-35% below median, while senior roles or specialized niches can pay 50-100%+ above. Your specific numbers depend on experience, location, employer, and credentials.

When does the salary gap matter most?

For someone choosing between these careers, the $35,000 annual difference compounds:

  • Over 10 years: ~$350,000 in raw salary difference
  • Over 40 years: ~$1,400,000 (without raises or compounding)
  • With 3% annual raises: the gap typically grows because the higher-paid role's raises are also larger in dollar terms
  • With investment compounding: the $35,000/year extra invested at 7% over 40 years grows to roughly $6,965,000 — significantly more than the raw difference

But salary isn't everything. Job satisfaction, work-life balance, growth potential, and career switching costs all matter. A career you can sustain for decades beats a higher-paying one you'll burn out on.

By state and city — significant variation

National medians are starting points. Real salaries vary 30%+ by location:

  • Accountant in California ≈ $93,220 (1.18× national)
  • Accountant in Mississippi ≈ $66,360 (0.84× national)
  • Administrative Assistant in California ≈ $51,920
  • Administrative Assistant in Mississippi ≈ $36,960

Use our Accountant salary by state pages to drill into specific locations.

Other comparisons in Finance

Accountant vs Financial Advisor
National median: $94,000
Accountant vs Bank Teller
National median: $36,000
Accountant vs Bookkeeper
National median: $47,000
Accountant vs Auditor
National median: $80,000

Other comparisons in Business

Administrative Assistant vs Project Manager
National median: $98,000
Administrative Assistant vs HR Manager
National median: $130,000
Administrative Assistant vs Recruiter
National median: $63,000
Administrative Assistant vs Office Manager
National median: $54,000

Related tools

Accountant salary by state — Administrative Assistant salary by state — Best cities for Accountant — Best cities for Administrative Assistant — Paycheck Calculator — Investment Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Accountant or a Administrative Assistant?▾
Nationally, Accountants earn approximately $79,000/year vs $44,000 for Administrative Assistants — a difference of $35,000 or 44.3%. Both numbers are medians; entry-level and senior roles in either field can vary widely from these figures.
What's the hourly difference?▾
Accountant: $38/hour. Administrative Assistant: $21/hour. Difference: $17/hour at standard 2,080 hours/year. This matters more for hourly-paid roles than salaried.
Are these national or state-specific salaries?▾
These are US national medians. Real salaries vary 30%+ by state and metro. A Accountant in San Francisco earns more than one in rural Mississippi, even with the same title. See our salary-by-state and salary-by-city pages for location-specific numbers.
Should I switch from Accountant to Administrative Assistant?▾
Salary is one factor. Also consider: education/training cost (some careers require years of school), job security and growth outlook, work-life balance, fit with your interests and strengths, and geographic flexibility. A higher-paying career you'll burn out on isn't worth more than a moderately-paid one you enjoy.
How do these salaries grow with experience?▾
Most professions see 30-50% growth from entry-level to senior over a 10-15 year career. Leadership roles (manager, director, executive) can double base salaries on top of that. Specialized skills (rare languages, niche expertise) command premium pay regardless of years. Continuous learning matters more than tenure alone.