Career comparison
Administrative Assistant vs. Legal Secretary
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Legal secretaries earn more at the median ($55,570 vs. $47,540), while administrative assistants usually get to work faster (Weeks to months of training). Administrative assistants keep offices organized: calendars, communication, documents and logistics. Legal secretaries keep a law office running by managing documents, filings and calendars.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Administrative Assistant | Legal Secretary | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,540 ($22.86/hr) | $55,570 ($26.72/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $33,280 – $66,350 | $36,500 – $91,730 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -6.0% (a projected decline) | -5.2% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 163,900 | 18,100 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Weeks to months | Several months on the job |
| Key credential | CAP (IAAP) | ALS |
| Work setting | Administrative assistants work in offices across every industry: schools, hospitals, law firms, government, construction companies and corporations. | Legal secretaries work in law firms, corporate legal departments and government offices.. |
What each job does
Administrative Assistant
- Manage calendars and schedule meetings
- Answer phones, emails and visitors professionally
- Prepare documents, presentations and spreadsheets
- Organize physical and digital files and records
- Coordinate travel, events and meeting logistics
Legal Secretary
- Prepare legal documents
- E-file court papers
- Manage deadlines
- Schedule depositions and hearings
- Organize case files
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, indoor work, and steady routines. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose administrative assistant if…
- I’m highly organized and detail-oriented
- I like helping a team run smoothly
- I’m comfortable with computers and software
Choose legal secretary if…
- I’m very organized
- I type fast and accurately
- I keep things confidential
Still torn? Take the Administrative Assistant fit quiz and the Legal Secretary fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, administrative assistant or legal secretary?
Legal Secretaries earn more at the median: $55,570 versus $47,540 for administrative assistants, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Administrative Assistants typically train faster (Weeks to months) than legal secretaries (Several months on the job).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects legal secretaries to grow -5.2% from 2025–35, compared with -6.0% for administrative assistants.