Executive Assistant Jobs in Chicago, IL
Executive assistants in the Chicago metro earn a median of $37.39 an hour, about $77,770 a year, supporting leaders at the exchanges, airlines, banks and universities based here. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring, what the role pays and how to move up into it.
Current executive assistant Openings in Chicago, IL
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Executive Assistant Work in Chicago
Chicago is home to 30 Fortune 500 headquarters, second only to New York, and every one of those C-suites runs on executive assistants. The work clusters in the Loop and the West Loop, around the trading floors and bank towers near Wacker Drive and the corporate offices that have moved toward Fulton Market, with more roles at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park and at suburban headquarters off the Kennedy and the Tri-State. Many downtown postings are now hybrid, with three or four days a week in the office, and a commute on the L or Metra is part of the job.
What sets Chicago apart is the mix of industries at the top. An executive assistant here might support a managing director at a derivatives exchange, a vice president at an airline, a bank's capital markets head or a university dean, and each brings its own pace. Illinois pay transparency rules, in force since January 2025, mean most of these postings now show the salary range up front.
Top Chicago Employers Hiring Executive Assistants
These employers have posted executive assistant roles in Chicago on their own careers sites:
- CME Group - the derivatives exchange hires executive assistants at its 20 S. Wacker Drive offices in the Loop.
- United Airlines - the Chicago-headquartered airline posts executive assistant roles, including hybrid ones, for its corporate teams.
- BMO - the bank hires executive assistants in Chicago, including for BMO Capital Markets.
- University of Chicago - posts executive assistant roles supporting deans, directors and senior administrators.
- CNA - the commercial insurer hires executive assistants for its Chicago headquarters.
- CDW - the IT solutions company posts hybrid executive assistant roles, including C-suite support, in Chicago.
Executive Assistant Salaries in Chicago
- Entry level: about $26 to $30 an hour, or $54,000 to $62,000 a year, for a first executive assistant role.
- Experienced: about $35 to $46 an hour, or $73,000 to $96,000 a year.
- Senior and C-suite: about $100,000 to $115,000 a year and up, supporting a CEO, CFO or managing partner.
These are estimates based on federal wage data for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro (May 2025), where the top tenth of executive assistants earn about $107,430 or more, checked against current Chicago postings. Pay moves most with who you support: an assistant to a CEO or a trading-firm partner earns well above one supporting a regional director. Finance, law and tech pay the most, many corporate roles add an annual bonus, and experience with complex international travel and board meetings commands a premium.
How to Become an Executive Assistant in Chicago
Executive assistant is rarely an entry-level job. Most Chicago postings ask for three to five years of administrative experience, advanced Outlook and PowerPoint skills and a record of supporting senior leaders, and some prefer a bachelor's degree. Illinois does not license executive assistants. The usual route is to start as an administrative assistant and move up; community college training helps, such as Oakton College's 18-credit Administrative Assistant Certificate in Des Plaines and Skokie, which names executive assistant as a target role, or Harper College's Administrative Assistant Certificate in Palatine. The voluntary Certified Administrative Professional credential can also strengthen a resume.
What the Job Involves
Executive assistants act as the right hand to one or a few senior leaders. The job means owning a crowded calendar, screening calls and email, preparing briefing materials and board decks, booking complex domestic and international travel, reconciling expenses, planning off-sites and leadership meetings, and following up on action items so nothing slips. The best executive assistants anticipate what their executive needs before being asked and handle sensitive information with complete discretion.
Skills Employers Look For
- Advanced Outlook calendar management across time zones
- Polished PowerPoint, Word and Excel
- Complex travel and expense management (Concur or similar)
- Judgment and discretion with confidential matters
- Poised communication with executives and board members
- Event and meeting planning
- Staying calm under shifting priorities
Career Path and Advancement
In Chicago the ladder usually runs from receptionist or administrative assistant to executive assistant supporting a vice president, then to senior executive assistant for a CEO, CFO or managing partner. From there, experienced assistants move into chief of staff, office manager, executive operations or event and project management roles, and at large employers some lead teams of assistants across a headquarters.
Related Careers in Chicago
If executive support interests you, these related Chicago roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do executive assistants make in Chicago?
The median for executive assistants in the Chicago metro is $37.39 an hour, or about $77,770 a year, based on May 2025 federal data. The middle half earn roughly $60,000 to $96,000, and assistants to top executives can earn well over $100,000.
Do you need a degree to be an executive assistant in Chicago?
Not always. Many employers accept strong experience in place of a degree, though some finance and corporate postings prefer a bachelor's. What almost every posting requires is several years of administrative experience and proof you have supported senior leaders.
Are executive assistant jobs in Chicago remote or hybrid?
Most are in the office at least part of the week. Hybrid schedules with three or four office days are common downtown, while fully remote executive assistant roles are rare because much of the job involves in-person meetings and visitors.
Do executive assistants need a license in Illinois?
No. There is no state license or registration for executive assistants in Illinois. Voluntary credentials such as the Certified Administrative Professional can help, but employers hire mainly on experience and references.
How long does it take to become an executive assistant?
Most people spend three to five years in administrative or office roles first. Moving up is faster if you take on calendar and travel work for senior leaders early, build strong PowerPoint and Excel skills, and ask to cover for an executive assistant when they are out.
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