Administrative Assistant salary in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ
Allentown-Bethlehem pays administrative assistants close to the national norm. The median is $47,080 a year1, 1.8% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 and about level with the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #163 of 520 areas. BLS counts about 4,130 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Allentown-Bethlehem against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | $35,090 | $47,080 | $62,200 | |
| Pennsylvania | $32,040 | $46,270 | $61,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Allentown-Bethlehem earns $39,350–$56,430. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $62,200, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.0 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $17,080 wide, between the figure for Pennsylvania ($15,110) and the US figure ($19,170).
What to budget for an administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,090 | $2,924 | $16.87 | $45,277 |
| 25th percentile | $39,350 | $3,279 | $18.92 | $50,774 |
| Median | $47,080 | $3,923 | $22.63 | $60,748 |
| 75th percentile | $56,430 | $4,702 | $27.13 | $72,813 |
| 90th percentile | $62,200 | $5,183 | $29.90 | $80,258 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,730 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,350, or about $12,065 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $47,540 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Allentown-Bethlehem, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Allentown-Bethlehem
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $13,668 to the $47,080 median and brings it to $60,748 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for administrative assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Allentown-Bethlehem
Of the 17 roles we track in Allentown-Bethlehem, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between e-commerce order specialists ($47,700) and medical administrative assistants ($46,180). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,050.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +4.3% | 2,430 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +1.3% | 130 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 4,130 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -1.9% | 1,960 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.2% | 5,140 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Allentown-Bethlehem (-1.0%), between payroll specialists (-0.8%) and virtual receptionists (-1.2%). The typical role here is at -3.0%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 12.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Allentown-Bethlehem, 11.4% across Pennsylvania and 10.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $38,660 in Johnstown to $48,850 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $10,190 a year. Of the 2 areas in Pennsylvania with more administrative assistants than Allentown-Bethlehem, 1 pays less: Pittsburgh, PA ($45,550).
| Area | Median | vs Allentown-Bethlehem | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | +3.8% | 32,850 | |
| State College, PA | +1.3% | 1,140 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +0.7% | 3,770 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | this area | 4,130 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -1.7% | 2,960 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -3.2% | 12,160 | |
| Reading, PA | -3.4% | 1,700 |
Allentown-Bethlehem against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Allentown-Bethlehem is #70 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Pennsylvania, Oshkosh-Neenah and Louisville pay just above Allentown-Bethlehem and Fargo and Jackson just below. All four are within $60 a year of the median in Allentown-Bethlehem. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Allentown-Bethlehem | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | +6.4% | 3,870 | jobs | |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | +1.4% | 4,420 | jobs | |
| Louisville, KY-IN | +0.0% | 4,770 | pay | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | +0.0% | 790 | pay | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | this area | 4,130 | ||
| Fargo, ND-MN | -0.0% | 1,730 | pay | |
| Jackson, MI | -0.1% | 530 | pay | |
| Montgomery, AL | -14.5% | 4,060 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ?
About $60,748 a year at the median, or $5,062 a month: $47,080 in pay plus about $13,668 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Allentown-Bethlehem?
The median was $47,080 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,090, the 90th $62,200, and the middle half earned $39,350 to $56,430.
Is Allentown-Bethlehem cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $47,080 against $46,270 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Harrisburg-Carlisle at $47,430, the next down Lancaster at $46,270.
How many administrative assistants work in Allentown-Bethlehem?
BLS counts about 4,130 in the May 2025 survey. Only Philadelphia-Camden and Pittsburgh have more in Pennsylvania.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Allentown-Bethlehem?
Yes: $900 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,080 and $46,180.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.