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Executive Assistant.

Nashville.

$77,000

median salary, 4% above the national average

$62,000 to $94,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

Orbyt estimates Executive Assistant pay in Nashville at $77,000, within a range of $62,000 to $94,000. That is 4% above the national average. Nashville has diversified well beyond music into healthcare, finance, and technology. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$62,000

per year

Median

$77,000

per year

75th Percentile

$94,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$62,000$94,000

Orbyt estimate for Executive Assistant in Nashville, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $73,700 for Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (SOC 43-6011) in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metropolitan area, based on 2,430 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$49,420

25th percentile

$61,140

Median

$73,700

75th percentile

$83,220

90th percentile

$101,990

Workers surveyed

2,430

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants (SOC 43-6011) rather than Executive Assistant specifically. The Nashville range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 43-6011

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $69,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$50,000

to $62,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$65,000

to $81,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$85,000

to $100,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$96,000

to $119,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $16,000 to the total package.

Base

$77,000

Equity

$8,000

Bonus

$6,000

Signing

$2,000

Estimated total: $93,000

How Nashville compares.

Nashville, TN

$77,000

Cost of living: at average

National Average

$74,000

Nashville is $3,000 above

Executive Assistant salary by city.

Executive Assistant salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$104,000$84,000 to $127,0001.38x$75,000
San Francisco, CA$101,000$82,000 to $123,0001.35x$75,000
New York, NY$98,000$79,000 to $119,0001.28x$77,000
Washington DC, DC$95,000$77,000 to $116,0001.25x$76,000
Honolulu, HI$94,000$76,000 to $115,0001.30x$72,000
Seattle, WA$89,000$72,000 to $108,0001.24x$72,000
Boston, MA$89,000$72,000 to $109,0001.22x$73,000
Anchorage, AK$87,000$71,000 to $106,0001.13x$77,000
Newark, NJ$87,000$71,000 to $106,0001.18x$74,000
Nashville, TN$77,000$62,000 to $94,0001.00x$77,000

See all 81 cities for Executive Assistant →

Salary by role in Nashville.

Salary comparison by role in Nashville
RoleMedianRange
CTO$306,000$239,000 to $398,000
General Counsel$286,000$222,000 to $371,000
CEO$270,000$196,000 to $372,000
Urban Planner$81,000$63,000 to $100,000
Web Developer$80,000$63,000 to $104,000
Logistics Coordinator$79,000$61,000 to $101,000
Executive Assistant$77,000$62,000 to $94,000
Radiologic Technologist$76,000$61,000 to $91,000

What you should know.

Before you negotiate an Executive Assistant offer in Nashville, understand the terrain. Nashville has diversified well beyond music into healthcare, finance, and technology. The city is home to HCA Healthcare and a growing corridor of health tech startups. Nashville's moderate cost of living, combined with Tennessee's lack of state income tax on wages, makes it increasingly popular for corporate relocations and remote workers. The seniority of the executive supported is the dominant pay factor. EAs to C-suite leaders earn 25 to 40% more than those supporting VPs or directors. Gatekeeping complexity, international travel coordination, and board-level document preparation all push salaries to the higher end of the range.

Junior EAs start at $48,000 to $58,000 supporting directors or VPs. EAs to SVPs and C-suite earn $68,000 to $95,000. Senior EAs and chiefs of staff reach $90,000 to $130,000. Some transition into operations management or business partner roles exceeding $120,000. In Nashville, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. Annual bonuses of 5 to 15% are common, often discretionary and based on executive satisfaction. EAs at tech companies frequently receive equity grants worth $5,000 to $25,000 annually. Some receive the same perks as executives, including travel upgrades. And on the tax side: tennessee has no state income tax on wages or salaries. This gives Nashville workers a meaningful take home advantage over peers in states with 5 to 10% income tax rates. When someone quotes you $77,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Use the healthcare industry concentration as leverage. Nashville healthcare employers are accustomed to national pay scales and will often match or beat coastal health sector offers. The range for Executive Assistants in Nashville runs from $62,000 to $94,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$62,000

Median

$77,000

75th

$94,000

Considering a related role?

Common questions.

EAs supporting CEOs, CFOs, and other C-suite executives earn 25 to 40% more than those supporting VPs. In major metros, C-suite EAs at large companies commonly earn $85,000 to $120,000, with total compensation reaching $100,000 to $140,000 including bonuses and equity.

Yes, chief of staff is an increasingly common career path for experienced EAs. The transition typically comes with a 30 to 50% salary increase, bringing total compensation to $110,000 to $160,000. The role shifts from administrative support to strategic project leadership.

The national median for an Executive Assistant is $77,000. In Nashville, cost of living adjustments push the median to $77,000. That discount reflects Nashville's lower housing, transportation, and everyday costs.

Nashville has diversified well beyond music into healthcare, finance, and technology. The city is home to HCA Healthcare and a growing corridor of health tech startups. For Executive Assistants specifically, the seniority of the executive supported is the dominant pay factor, which signals sustained demand. The current compensation range of $62,000 to $94,000 reflects a market that is competing for talent.

Tennessee has no state income tax on wages or salaries. This gives Nashville workers a meaningful take home advantage over peers in states with 5 to 10% income tax rates. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Executive Assistant hiring in Nashville typically involves three to five rounds: a recruiter screen, a technical or skills assessment, one or two team interviews, and a final conversation with leadership. Companies in Nashville's Healthcare sector may add domain specific evaluations. The process usually takes two to four weeks. Prepare by researching the company and practicing with Orbyt's Interview Prep tool.

Executive Assistant salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Nashville.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Executive Assistants in Nashville.

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"Executive Assistant Salary in Nashville, TN." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/executive-assistant/nashville

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