The 2025 SecsintheCity Survey provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of Personal Assistants and Executive Assistants salaries within the business support industry. This year’s survey, which gathered insights from over 1,200 professionals, highlights trends in salary, bonuses and employment conditions, offering a detailed view of this competitive field…
The current trends for Executive Assistant and Personal Assistant salaries
The results of the survey reveal overall positive salary trends, with 65% of business support professionals reporting a pay rise over the last year. Bonuses have also surged, with 52% of respondents receiving additional financial compensation alongside their regular salaries, indicating growth and recognition within the sector. However, the growth is not uniform across all roles. EAs experienced a modest salary increase of 4%, while PA salaries remained largely unchanged.
Despite this, Private PAs continue to lead the salary table with an average annual income of £58,100, marking a 2% increase from 2024, suggesting that the unique skill set required for Private PA roles commands higher remuneration compared to other job titles.
Educational shifts within the EA and PA profession
A notable trend in this year’s survey is the shift in educational requirements, as a growing percentage of young professionals now hold degrees or higher qualifications. This change reflects employers’ increasing preference for candidates with formal education credentials, aligning with evolving job specifications and responsibilities within business support roles. A larger percentage of our younger audience – Gen Z (42%) and Millennials (47%) – have a Bachelor’s degree or above, suggesting that educational requirements for roles are increasing.
Respondents with Master’s degree are this year’s top earners, followed by Doctorate and Bachelor’s degree. Evidently, experience and education pays off.
Generational insights of Executive Assistant and Personal Assistant salaries
This year’s survey provided insights into generational dynamics within the workforce, showing what each age group wants from a job. Gen X professionals make up 51% of respondents and are the highest earners, with average salaries of £51,470. Millennials follow closely at 36% of the workforce. Interestingly, Private PA roles are predominantly filled by Gen X (5require extensive experience. However, Gen Z professionals are more likely to occupy temporary roles (17%), often in project-based jobs such as Marketing Assistants (45%) and Events (33%), highlighting the entry-level nature of these positions for younger workers.
Experience and loyalty are hit with a pay ceiling
That kind of job experience continues to play a crucial role in salary determination, as respondents with over 20 years of experience in the industry command the highest average salaries (£51,530), although there is a noticeable pay ceiling after the 10-20 year mark. Despite this, new starters have seen an increase in average salaries to £30,000 from £27,777 in 2024.
Company loyalty has increased slightly, with 20% of respondents working in their current role for over ten years. However, there is significant volatility in certain job titles; for example, 72% of Marketing Assistants (a job title often taken on a temporary basis) have been in their roles for less than three years. Despite this instability, many office support workers are considering job changes within the next year due to perceived better opportunities elsewhere.
Leading sectors and locations for EA and PA jobs
Banking & Finance remains the most popular sector for office support professionals, employing 22% of respondents, with Legal following closely behind. Private individuals top the sector table with an average salary of £61,700, marking a significant increase from last year.
Supporting C-suite executives has also become more lucrative than managing multiple bosses, as those catering to a single executive earn an average salary of £53,400, showing the complexity and demands associated with high-level executive support roles.
Geographical location also continues to influence salary levels. While London remains a key employment hub with an average salary increase to £52,400 (up 6% from 2024), Australasia has overtaken on the pay scale for the first time with an average salary of £60,000 (albeit with few respondents). Scotland on the other hand, experienced a substantial pay increase of 36%, reflecting growing demand for roles there.
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Bonuses and benefits
Bonuses remain a significant draw for business support professionals and 52% of respondents reported receiving bonuses this year. Executive Assistants lead in bonus rates (61%), followed by Team Assistants (55%). In terms of benefits, financial bonuses are most desirable (78% of respondents saw it as attractive), followed by flexible working arrangements (68%) and private healthcare (59%).
Flexible working arrangements are proven to be increasingly important to employees. Currently, 69% enjoy hybrid or remote work setups – a rise from previous years. However, many professionals face increased expectations for onsite presence as businesses adjust post-pandemic strategies.
An evolving landscape
The SecsintheCity Salary Survey offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape for PAs and EAs. While there are encouraging trends in salary growth and flexible working arrangements, challenges remain—particularly regarding wage disparities across different sectors. Employers must adapt to employee needs by offering competitive benefits packages and fostering inclusive environments to attract and retain top talent in this dynamic industry.
As professionals seek roles that align with their values and career objectives, understanding these trends is essential for informed decision-making by both job seekers and employers alike.
For those considering a new role within the business support sector, SecsintheCity posts all the latest jobs for Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants, as well as a wide range of other job titles. Please consider checking out our jobs pages, setting up a job alert and uploading your CV to our database to be headhunted by business support recruiters and hiring managers. We wish you the best of luck with your job search. You can also view the latest openings from SecsintheCity in PA Life.
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