Secretary Salary in Sri Lanka 2026
Secretarial roles with legal, medical, and corporate specialization
Quick Answer
Secretaries in Sri Lanka earn LKR 35,000-120,000 per month, with specialized Legal Secretaries earning LKR 60K-150K and Medical Secretaries LKR 50K-120K. General Secretary: LKR 35K-60K. Corporate Secretary: LKR 50K-90K. Executive Secretary: LKR 60K-100K. Note: Statutory Company Secretary (ICSA qualified) is different role earning LKR 150K-400K. Specialized secretaries require domain knowledge and qualifications. Typing speed 50+ wpm expected.
Salary by Specialization
| Specialization | Entry (0-2 yr) | Mid (3-5 yr) | Senior (6+ yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Secretary | 35K-45K | 45K-60K | 60K-75K |
| Corporate Secretary | 50K-65K | 65K-85K | 85K-100K |
| Legal Secretary | 60K-80K | 80K-110K | 110K-150K |
| Medical Secretary | 50K-70K | 70K-95K | 95K-120K |
| Executive Secretary | 60K-75K | 75K-95K | 95K-120K |
Required Skills
General Skills:
- + Typing: 50-60 wpm
- + MS Office Proficiency
- + Communication Skills
- + Organizational Skills
- + Professional Conduct
Specialized Knowledge:
- + Legal: Court procedures, terminology
- + Medical: Medical terminology, transcription
- + Corporate: Board processes, compliance
- + Executive: Stakeholder management
- + Company Secretary: ICSA qualification
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary of a Secretary in Sri Lanka?
Secretaries in Sri Lanka earn LKR 35,000-120,000 per month depending on specialization and experience. General Secretary: LKR 35,000-60,000. Corporate Secretary: LKR 50,000-90,000. Legal Secretary: LKR 60,000-150,000. Medical Secretary: LKR 50,000-120,000. Executive Secretary: LKR 60,000-100,000. Secretary to Director: LKR 70,000-120,000. Company Secretary (qualified): LKR 150,000-400,000. Private Secretary to senior officials: LKR 80,000-150,000. Role requires strong organizational, communication, and administrative skills. Specialized secretaries (legal, medical) earn higher due to domain knowledge.
What qualifications does Secretary need?
Secretary requirements vary by role. General Secretary: A/L minimum, typing certificate, computer skills. Corporate Secretary: Degree preferred, shorthand, advanced computer skills. Legal Secretary: A/L plus legal secretary certificate or law degree/diploma. Medical Secretary: Medical secretary training, medical terminology knowledge. Company Secretary (statutory): ICSA qualification mandatory. Executive Secretary: Degree, professional secretary certification helpful. Required skills: Typing 40-60 wpm, Shorthand (some roles), MS Office proficiency, English proficiency, Communication skills, Professional conduct. Professional secretary courses: Technical College, Vocational Training, Private institutes. ICSA for Company Secretary role. Continuous skill development in software relevant to field.
How much does Legal Secretary earn?
Legal Secretaries earn LKR 60,000-150,000 per month. Entry Legal Secretary: LKR 60,000-80,000. Mid-level (3-5 years): LKR 80,000-110,000. Senior Legal Secretary: LKR 110,000-150,000. Law firm Legal Secretary: LKR 70,000-130,000. Corporate Legal Department Secretary: LKR 80,000-140,000. Senior Partner Secretary (law firm): LKR 120,000-180,000. Role requires legal terminology knowledge, court procedures, document preparation. Knowledge of company law, litigation processes helpful. Top law firms pay highest. Experience in specific practice areas (corporate, litigation, IP) commands premium. Career progression to Paralegal or Legal Assistant possible. Qualifications: Legal secretary certificate, law diploma helpful.
What is Medical Secretary salary?
Medical Secretaries earn LKR 50,000-120,000 per month. Entry Medical Secretary: LKR 50,000-70,000. Medical Secretary (hospital): LKR 65,000-90,000. Senior Medical Secretary: LKR 85,000-120,000. Private hospital Medical Secretary: LKR 70,000-110,000. Specialist clinic Secretary: LKR 55,000-80,000. Laboratory/Pathology Secretary: LKR 60,000-85,000. Role requires: Medical terminology, patient record management, appointment scheduling, insurance coordination, transcription of medical notes. Hospitals and private clinics are main employers. Requires training in medical secretary or health information management. Accuracy and confidentiality critical. Some Medical Secretaries have nursing or health assistant backgrounds. Experience in specific departments (cardiology, oncology) commands premium.
How much does Corporate Secretary earn?
Corporate Secretaries earn LKR 50,000-100,000 per month. Entry Corporate Secretary: LKR 50,000-65,000. Mid-level: LKR 65,000-85,000. Senior Corporate Secretary: LKR 85,000-100,000. Corporate Secretary at MNC: LKR 70,000-120,000. Secretary supporting C-suite: LKR 80,000-130,000. Note: Statutory Company Secretary (ICSA qualified) is different role earning LKR 150K-400K. Corporate Secretary handles: C-suite correspondence, meeting coordination, board meeting preparation, corporate documentation, stakeholder communication. Requires professional demeanor, confidentiality, high-level communication. Career progression to Executive Assistant. Degree preferred. Advanced computer skills including presentation preparation.
What is the difference between Secretary and Administrative Assistant?
Secretary and Administrative Assistant roles overlap but have distinctions. Secretary salary: LKR 35K-90K. Admin Assistant salary: LKR 30K-70K. Traditionally, Secretary role includes typing, shorthand, correspondence for specific executive. Admin Assistant handles broader office administration. Modern roles have converged significantly. Secretary: Supporting specific executive, drafting correspondence, scheduling, filing. Admin Assistant: General office administration, inventory, vendor coordination. Some organizations use titles interchangeably. Specialized secretaries (Legal, Medical) retain distinct identity. Executive Assistant evolved from Secretary role. Secretary role emphasizes specialized skills (typing, shorthand, correspondence). Admin Assistant role emphasizes general office management. Career progression similar to Office Manager or Admin Manager. Corporate Secretary often has clearer career path to Executive Assistant supporting senior executives.
What is Company Secretary (statutory) salary?
Company Secretary (ICSA qualified, statutory role) earns LKR 150,000-400,000 monthly. This is different from general Secretary role. Company Secretary (ICSA part-qualified): LKR 100,000-180,000. Fully qualified Company Secretary: LKR 150,000-250,000. Senior Company Secretary: LKR 200,000-350,000. Company Secretary at listed company: LKR 280,000-450,000. Group Company Secretary: LKR 350,000-500,000. Role requires ICSA qualification (Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators). Statutory responsibility for company compliance, board meetings, annual returns, corporate governance. Board-level position at some organizations. Legal and compliance responsibilities. Not the same as Executive Secretary or Corporate Secretary supporting executives. Separate career path with governance focus. Becoming mandatory for many organizations under Companies Act. High demand for qualified practitioners.
What are Secretary responsibilities?
Secretary responsibilities: Manage executive correspondence (letters, emails). Draft and type documents, reports, letters. Manage calendars, appointments, schedules. Arrange meetings and prepare materials. Take meeting minutes and follow action items. Maintain filing systems (physical and digital). Answer and screen phone calls. Coordinate travel arrangements. Handle confidential information. Manage office supplies and documents. Coordinate with internal departments. Event coordination and logistics. Specialized responsibilities: Legal Secretary: Court document preparation, legal research support, case file management. Medical Secretary: Patient records, medical transcription, appointment coordination. Corporate Secretary: Board meeting coordination, corporate documentation, shareholder communication. Executive Secretary: High-level stakeholder management, strategic admin support. Advanced secretaries: Project coordination, report preparation, presentation development.
Is Secretary a good career?
Yes, Secretary is a stable career with clear responsibilities and consistent demand. Every organization needs secretarial support. Salary progression: Entry LKR 35K-50K to Senior LKR 70K-120K. Specialized areas (Legal, Medical) offer higher earning. Clear job responsibilities and structure. Office-based work with good environment. No sales pressure or targets. Skills are transferable across industries. Career paths: Secretary to Senior Secretary to Office Manager or Secretary to Executive Assistant to PA to Director. Legal Secretary can progress to Paralegal or Legal Assistant. Medical Secretary has stable healthcare sector demand. Some study while working to transition to other careers. Work is administrative, not strategic. Routine and repetitive tasks common. Good for organized, detail-focused individuals who enjoy administrative work. Recommended for those preferring structured roles with clear deliverables.
How to become Legal Secretary?
To become Legal Secretary: Complete A/L examination. Obtain Legal Secretary Certificate from Technical College or private institute (6-12 months). Alternative: Law degree or diploma for higher positions. Learn legal terminology, court procedures, document preparation. Typing speed 50+ wpm required. MS Office proficiency essential. Start at entry level at law firm or corporate legal department (LKR 50K-65K). Gain experience in legal processes. Develop expertise in practice area (litigation, corporate law, IP). Build vocabulary and understanding of legal documents. Consider additional certification in specific areas. Career progression: 3-5 years to Senior Legal Secretary (LKR 80K-120K). Network with legal professionals. Some transition to Paralegal with law diploma. Join law firm training programs. Top firms offer on-the-job training. Attention to detail and accuracy critical in legal role.
What typing speed is required for Secretary?
Secretary typing speed requirements: Minimum 40-50 words per minute (wpm) for most positions. Corporate Secretary: 50-60 wpm preferred. Legal Secretary: 50-60 wpm required for heavy document work. Medical Secretary: 45-55 wpm with medical transcription accuracy. Executive Secretary: 50+ wpm. Shorthand: Some traditional roles require shorthand (80-100 wpm), but this is declining. Most modern roles prioritize: Accurate typing, computer proficiency, document formatting. Typing speed is tested during interviews at many companies. Improve speed through: Online typing courses, Regular practice (TypingTest.com, Keybr), Focus on accuracy first then speed, Learn proper keyboarding technique. Target: 50-60 wpm for competitive positions. Secretarial courses at Technical Colleges include typing training. Certificate level typing qualification demonstrates competency.
What is Secretary salary with 10 years experience?
Secretary with 10 years experience earns LKR 70,000-120,000 per month depending on specialization. General Secretary at local company: LKR 70,000-90,000. Corporate Secretary at large organization: LKR 90,000-120,000. Legal Secretary (law firm): LKR 100,000-150,000. Medical Secretary (private hospital): LKR 85,000-120,000. Executive Secretary supporting senior management: LKR 100,000-140,000. At 10 years, should be Senior Secretary or supporting senior executives. Salary growth plateaus after 10-12 years without role transition. Consider moving to Executive Assistant, Office Manager, or specialized Legal/Medical roles for higher ceiling. Some transition to HR or Admin Manager. Expert Legal Secretaries at top firms earn LKR 150,000-180,000 at 10+ years. Experience in high-demand specialization increases value significantly.