Career Guide · 2026

Salary Negotiation for Executive Assistants

Updated June 2026 · By the RISN team

Most executive assistants accept the first offer they're given — and leave thousands of dollars on the table. Negotiating is expected, rarely risky, and almost always worth it. Here's how executive assistants should approach the conversation.

Research the market rate for Executive Assistants

Before any negotiation, executive assistants should know the market range for their role and city. Use Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and Levels.fyi. Walk in with a number and a walkaway figure already decided.

What Executive Assistants should say

State your target number clearly, anchored to your research and a specific accomplishment, then stop talking. Silence after the ask is the most powerful tool in any negotiation — the first person to speak usually concedes ground.

Handling pushback as one of the executive assistants

If the answer is 'no budget,' executive assistants should pivot to total compensation — signing bonus, earlier review date, additional PTO, or equity. These are often easier to approve than base salary and still move the total package.

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