Administrative Assistant salary in Altoona, PA
Hiring an administrative assistant costs less in Altoona than in Pennsylvania or the country as a whole. The median is $39,010 a year1: 15.7% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 and 17.9% below the US median of $47,540. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#443 of 520). BLS counts about 640 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Altoona, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Altoona against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | $27,390 | $39,010 | $53,690 | |
| Pennsylvania | $32,040 | $46,270 | $61,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Altoona earns $31,980–$47,210. The top tenth earns $53,690 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $15,230 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 | $27,390 | $2,282 | $13.17 | $35,342 |
| 25th percentile | $31,980 | $2,665 | $15.38 | $41,265 |
| Median | $39,010 | $3,251 | $18.75 | $50,335 |
| 75th percentile | $47,210 | $3,934 | $22.70 | $60,916 |
| 90th percentile | $53,690 | $4,474 | $25.81 | $69,277 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,030 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,200, or about $10,581 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 75th and 90th percentiles in Altoona, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local administrative assistants earn.
What a hire really costs in Altoona
At the $39,010 median, a local hire costs about $50,335 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,325 here. 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 Altoona
Of the 15 roles we track in Altoona, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($39,910) and customer support specialists ($37,540). Project Coordinator is the highest at $87,660.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +6.6% | 30 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +2.3% | 280 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 640 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.8% | 800 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -17.4% | 370 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #12 of the 15 roles we track in Altoona (-17.9%), between sales development representatives (-17.2%) and accountants (-21.5%). The typical role here is at -15.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 13.4% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Altoona, 11.5% across Pennsylvania and 10.9% 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 15 areas in Pennsylvania with more administrative assistants than Altoona, 1 pays less: Johnstown, PA ($38,660).
| Area | Median | vs Altoona | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsport, PA | +11.4% | 570 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | +11.3% | 490 | |
| Erie, PA | +7.3% | 1,240 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +0.9% | 1,760 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +0.8% | 1,750 | |
| Altoona, PA | this area | 640 | |
| Johnstown, PA | -0.9% | 700 |
Altoona against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Altoona is #405 of 520 US areas for this job. It is a small market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Parkersburg-Vienna and Wichita Falls pay just above Altoona and McAllen-Edinburg and Gadsden just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Altoona. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Altoona | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glens Falls, NY | +19.3% | 640 | jobs | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | +17.8% | 640 | jobs | |
| Punta Gorda, FL | +11.9% | 640 | jobs | |
| Wichita Falls, TX | +0.3% | 730 | pay | |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | +0.2% | 410 | pay | |
| Altoona, PA | this area | 640 | ||
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | +0.0% | 3,180 | pay | |
| Gadsden, AL | -0.4% | 670 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Altoona, PA?
About $50,335 a year at the median, or $4,195 a month: $39,010 in pay plus about $11,325 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Altoona?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $39,010 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $27,390, the 90th $53,690, and the middle half earned $31,980 to $47,210.
Is Altoona cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $39,010 against $46,270 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area at $39,320, the next down Johnstown at $38,660.
How many administrative assistants work in Altoona?
BLS counts about 640 in the May 2025 survey. 15 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Johnstown, with about 700.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a customer support specialist in Altoona?
Yes: $1,470 a year more at the median. The medians are $39,010 and $37,540.
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.