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$66,000 USD is the average salary for an Executive Assistant in Lansing, MI, based on aggregated data from Glassdoor, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Salary.com (2025-2026). This page covers the full pay spectrum from entry-level admin roles to senior C-suite business partners, who those figures apply to, and why ranges vary based on support level, industry, calendar complexity, and board exposure.
Pay climbs steeply as support level rises from director to C-suite and board exposure increases.
$44,000 - $57,000 USD
Typically supports managers or mid-level directors with scheduling, correspondence, and basic travel logistics in government, nonprofit, or small-business settings.
$57,000 - $75,000 USD
Manages complex VP-level calendars across multiple time zones, coordinates domestic travel, and begins owning board-prep logistics and budget tracking.
$75,000 - $95,000 USD
Provides sole or primary support to a C-suite officer, manages board-meeting logistics, international travel coordination, and acts as a communications gatekeeper.
$95,000 - $120,000 USD
Operates as a strategic partner to the CEO or board chair, owns cross-functional projects, manages junior admin staff, and represents the executive in internal forums.
Most EAs plateau when their title and scope diverge - they are doing senior-level work at a mid-level pay grade. The fastest fix is to reframe your resume around executive impact, not task lists.
Higher-paying candidates typically show:
The state capital anchors a large government employer base; private-sector and association roles at the top of this band require C-suite or board-level support experience.
The highest-paying Michigan market for EAs, driven by auto-sector headquarters (Ford, GM), financial services, and large healthcare systems like Henry Ford Health.
Growing market with active demand from manufacturing, healthcare, and financial employers; top band roles sit at major private employers and regional HQs.
University of Michigan and surrounding life-sciences and tech firms push mid-to-senior EA pay above the Lansing baseline; legal-sector demand is notable here.
Pharmaceutical and healthcare presence (Stryker, Pfizer manufacturing) creates pockets of senior EA demand, but the market is narrower than Detroit or Grand Rapids.
Michigan EA roles at mid-to-senior levels routinely include annual discretionary bonuses of $3,000-$15,000. Glassdoor data shows some Michigan EAs earn up to $14,900 in additional pay annually. Always negotiate bonus eligibility separately from base salary.
On-site C-suite EA roles in Lansing carry a modest premium for physical presence, especially for board-meeting and travel-coordination roles. Remote EA roles for out-of-state employers can pay 15-25% above local Lansing benchmarks, making location-agnostic job searches highly worthwhile.
Lansing's large state-government employer base - including the State of Michigan - anchors a significant portion of local EA salaries in the $55,000-$70,000 range. Private-sector and association roles routinely pay $15,000-$30,000 more for equivalent scope and tenure.
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Answers to the most common questions about Executive Assistant compensation in Lansing, MI, US.
Aggregated data from Glassdoor, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Salary.com (2025-2026) places the average Executive Assistant salary in Lansing, MI at approximately $62,000-$76,000 USD per year depending on the source. The broadest range across all experience levels runs from roughly $44,000 at entry level to $120,000 for senior C-suite business partners. Base salary only; bonuses and profit-sharing are additional.
C-suite EA roles in Michigan - particularly in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids - typically pay $80,000-$120,000 USD annually based on Glassdoor and market data through 2025. In Lansing, the equivalent range for a CEO-level EA is approximately $75,000-$110,000 depending on company size, board exposure, and industry. Private-sector employers pay considerably more than state-government roles for comparable scope.
Government and public-administration EA roles in Lansing, including positions with the State of Michigan, typically pay $55,000-$70,000 USD. Private-sector roles at manufacturing, legal, financial-services, or association employers in the same market often pay $75,000-$100,000+ for equivalent tenure and C-suite support scope. The gap is primarily driven by industry premium and bonus eligibility.
Yes - supporting a C-suite officer (CEO, CFO, COO) versus a director-level executive typically adds $15,000-$30,000 to base pay in the Michigan market. Board exposure, such as preparing board decks and managing board member communications, is a recognized pay premium. Michigan management and consulting EA roles, which most commonly involve senior-executive support, show a median total pay near $92,000 according to Glassdoor data.
Scheduling complexity, travel planning, executive-level project coordination, and proficiency in tools like Concur, Salesforce, and Microsoft 365 are frequently cited in Michigan EA job postings. Project management credentials (PMP, CAPM) and professional certifications such as CAP (Certified Administrative Professional) are associated with higher placement in the $75,000+ band. Industry-specific knowledge in legal, healthcare, or manufacturing also commands a premium.
Lansing is a solid but government-weighted market, which compresses the top of the pay range compared to Detroit or Grand Rapids. Detroit EA roles average $81,000 on Glassdoor versus $76,000 in Lansing, and top earners in Detroit reach $122,000 compared to $117,000 in Lansing. For senior-level EAs, targeting Detroit metro employers or remote roles with Michigan-headquartered private firms offers a meaningful salary advantage.
Glassdoor data for Michigan shows that some EAs earn approximately $14,900 in additional annual pay through bonuses and profit-sharing. This is more common in private-sector roles at manufacturing, financial-services, and consulting employers than in government or nonprofit settings. Always negotiate bonus eligibility as a separate line item from base salary.
Senior EA and administrative business-partner roles in Michigan supporting CEOs, boards, or C-suites with project ownership and staff management responsibilities typically pay $95,000-$120,000 USD. These roles are concentrated in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and select Lansing private-sector employers. Candidates in this band typically have 10+ years of progressive EA experience and documented board or governance exposure.
Explore salary ranges for similar administrative and office support roles in Lansing, nearby Midwest markets, and comparable positions.
| Job title | Entry Level | Mid-Career | Senior | Staff / Business Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | $42,000 - $55,000 USD | $55,000 - $72,000 USD | $72,000 - $90,000 USD | $90,000 - $105,000 USD |
| Executive Assistant | $45K - $60K USD | $60K - $78K USD | $78K - $98K USD | $98K - $118K USD |
| Office Administrator | $34,000 - $42,000 USD | $42,000 - $56,000 USD | $56,000 - $70,000 USD | $70,000 - $85,000 USD |
| Office Manager | $42K - $52K CAD | $52K - $68K CAD | $68K - $82K CAD | $82K - $95K CAD |
| Administrative Assistant | $36,000 - $44,000 CAD | $44,000 - $56,000 CAD | $56,000 - $68,000 CAD | $68,000 - $75,000 CAD |
| HR Assistant | $36K - $44K USD | $44K - $54K USD | $54K - $62K USD | $62K - $68K USD |
| Operations Coordinator | $38,000 - $46,000 USD | $46,000 - $60,000 USD | $60,000 - $72,000 USD | $72,000 - $78,000 USD |
| Legal Administrative Assistant | $40K - $48K CAD | $48K - $60K CAD | $60K - $70K CAD | $70K - $75K CAD |
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Read article →Salary ranges on this page were compiled by cross-referencing aggregated salary data from Glassdoor, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Salary.com, and PayScale for Executive Assistant roles in Lansing, MI and comparable Michigan cities, covering data collection periods of 2025-2026. Multiple sources were averaged and weighted by sample size to arrive at the mean and range figures shown.
These perspectives are drawn from public forums, salary review platforms, and professional community discussions active in 2025-2026 and reflect common themes reported by EAs in the Michigan market.
“Supporting the Governor's office sounds impressive but the pay does not reflect the stress or the hours.”
A recurring theme among government EAs in Lansing is that public-sector prestige does not translate to competitive base pay - private-sector roles in the same city can pay 20-30% more for similar scope.
“Once I moved from supporting a VP to a CEO my salary jumped $18K in one year without changing companies.”
This mirrors Michigan market data showing a strong premium for C-suite versus director-level support, reinforcing that title of the supported executive is a primary pay lever.
“The range is huge here - entry level in state government is nothing like what the auto companies pay in Detroit.”
The government-vs-private-sector pay gap in Michigan is well documented; Detroit auto-sector EA roles regularly pay $85,000-$120,000 versus $55,000-$70,000 in Lansing government roles.
“Board prep and travel coordination are the two fastest ways to justify a salary bump - document everything you own.”
Senior EAs with documented board-meeting and international travel responsibility consistently land in the upper half of the $75,000-$120,000 band in Michigan.
“Remote EA work for a Chicago-based firm paying me $90K while living in Lansing - cost of living arbitrage is real.”
Remote EA roles for out-of-state employers are a growing strategy for Lansing-based professionals to access higher pay bands without relocating, consistent with data showing 15-25% remote premiums.
State of Michigan · Michigan State University · Sparrow Health System (part of UofM Health) · Auto-Owners Insurance · Jackson National Life Insurance · Consumers Energy · Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan · Riveron Consulting · KPMG Michigan · Ingham County Government · Michigan State University Federal Credit Union · Henry Ford Health
Glassdoor Executive Assistant salary data for Lansing, MI and Michigan statewide (November-December 2025) Glassdoor - Lansing EA Salaries
Indeed Executive Assistant salary data for Lansing, MI and Michigan statewide (November 2025) Indeed - Lansing EA Salaries
ZipRecruiter Executive Assistant salary data for Lansing, MI and Michigan (November 2025 - April 2026) ZipRecruiter - Lansing EA Salaries
Salary.com Executive Assistant I benchmark data for Lansing, MI and Michigan cities (November 2025 - February 2026) Salary.com - Michigan EA Benchmark
PayScale Executive Assistant salary data for Detroit, MI (June 2025) PayScale - Detroit EA Salaries