SOC 4215 Secretarial and related occupations

Personal assistants and other secretaries Salary

Median salary £25,233 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £25,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For personal assistants and other secretaries, £34,954 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -10% versus the national average. Experienced personal assistants and other secretaries (top 25%) earn over £36,179.

About this role

Personal assistants and other secretaries provide high-level administrative support to managers and executives. They manage diaries, coordinate meetings, handle correspondence, organise travel and ensure the smooth running of office operations, often serving as a key point of contact.

Key responsibilities

Managing diaries, scheduling meetings and coordinating events
Handling correspondence, emails and telephone enquiries
Preparing documents, reports and presentations
Organising travel arrangements and logistics
Maintaining filing systems and office administration

Qualifications and entry routes

Relevant experience is the primary requirement. Administrative qualifications (e.g., IAM, LCCI) and IT skills are valued. Executive PA roles often require significant experience supporting senior leaders.

Career outlook

Automation is reducing some routine administrative roles, but demand remains for skilled administrators who can manage complex workflows and support senior teams.

Key skills

Organisation Communication IT proficiency (Microsoft Office) Time management Discretion and confidentiality

Common industries

All sectors
Legal firms
Corporate offices
Public sector
Healthcare

Data coverage

SOC code 4215

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 164,000

Median Salary

£25,233

Mean Salary

£26,511

Jobs (000s)

164k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P10: £6kP25: £12kMedian: £25kP75: £36kP90: £49k

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£5,965

0-2 years

Mid Level

£12,103

3-7 years

Senior

£36,179

8-15 years

Leadership

£48,675

15+ years

Potential career growth: +716% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +39.5%Real growth: +1.1%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£25,233

Full-time Only

£34,954

Full-time premium: +£9,721

Personal assistants and other secretaries salary: common questions

How much do personal assistants and other secretaries earn in the UK?

Personal assistants and other secretaries earn a median of £34,954 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £12,103 and £36,179.

Is £34,954 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for personal assistants and other secretaries?

Entry-level personal assistants and other secretaries typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £12,103, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £5,965.

How much do the highest-paid personal assistants and other secretaries earn?

The best-paid 10% of personal assistants and other secretaries earn over £48,675 a year, and the top 25% over £36,179 (ONS ASHE 2025).

Have personal assistants and other secretaries salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median personal assistants and other secretaries pay has risen from £25,000 to £34,954 — +40% in cash terms, or +1.0% after CPIH inflation. That is roughly in line with inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).