Administrative Assistant salary in Ann Arbor, MI
Administrative assistants earn more in Ann Arbor than anywhere else in Michigan. Expect a median of $50,600 a year1, 10.0% above the Michigan statewide median of $46,020 and 6.4% above the US median of $47,540. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#64 of 520). About 2,290 administrative assistants work here, 6% of the Michigan total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Ann Arbor, MI. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Ann Arbor against Michigan and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | $37,380 | $50,600 | $65,520 | |
| Michigan | $33,360 | $46,020 | $63,950 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Ann Arbor earns $43,870–$60,720. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $65,520, 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 $16,850 wide, between the figure for Michigan ($14,740) 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 | $37,380 | $3,115 | $17.97 | $48,232 |
| 25th percentile | $43,870 | $3,656 | $21.09 | $56,606 |
| Median | $50,600 | $4,217 | $24.33 | $65,290 |
| 75th percentile | $60,720 | $5,060 | $29.19 | $78,348 |
| 90th percentile | $65,520 | $5,460 | $31.50 | $84,542 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $10,120 over the median, the 25th only $6,730 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $13,058 a year in employer cost. 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 25th percentile and the median in Ann Arbor, and the Michigan statewide median of $46,020 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Ann Arbor
At the $50,600 median, a local hire costs about $65,290 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,690 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 Ann Arbor
Of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($51,100) and e-commerce order specialists ($50,330). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,690.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +1.2% | 130 | |
| Bookkeeper | +1.0% | 1,510 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 2,290 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -0.5% | 60 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -7.6% | 1,930 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #3 of the 17 roles we track in Ann Arbor (+6.4%), between sales development representatives (+7.6%) and virtual receptionists (+3.1%). The typical role here is at +1.2%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Ann Arbor than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 11.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Ann Arbor, 10.1% across Michigan and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Michigan
Across the 19 areas of Michigan with data for this job, the median runs from $39,660 in the Northern Michigan nonmetro area to $50,600 in Ann Arbor, a gap of $10,940 a year. All 3 areas in Michigan with more administrative assistants than Ann Arbor pay less, among them Detroit-Warren, MI ($47,330) and Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI ($45,440).
| Area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 2,290 | |
| Midland, MI | -3.1% | 500 | |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | -3.8% | 2,460 | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | -6.5% | 16,970 | |
| Jackson, MI | -7.1% | 530 | |
| Monroe, MI | -10.0% | 330 | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -10.2% | 4,710 |
Ann Arbor against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Ann Arbor is #135 of 520 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the top quarter of US areas. Outside Michigan, Wenatchee-East Wenatchee and Bakersfield-Delano pay just above Ann Arbor and Waterbury-Shelton and Chicago-Naperville just below. All four are within $360 a year of the median in Ann Arbor. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Ann Arbor | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +6.3% | 2,310 | jobs | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +0.7% | 2,730 | pay | |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | +0.2% | 520 | pay | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | this area | 2,290 | ||
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | -0.3% | 2,330 | pay | |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | -0.3% | 50,190 | pay | |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | -9.3% | 2,330 | jobs | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -17.8% | 2,260 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Ann Arbor, MI?
About $65,290 a year at the median, or $5,441 a month: $50,600 in pay plus about $14,690 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Ann Arbor?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $50,600 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,380, the 90th $65,520, and the middle half earned $43,870 to $60,720.
Is Ann Arbor the most expensive area in Michigan for administrative assistants?
Yes. Its median of $50,600 is the highest of 19 areas in Michigan. Midland comes next at $49,010.
How many administrative assistants work in Ann Arbor?
BLS counts about 2,290 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Michigan total of 40,830. 3 areas in Michigan have more; the closest in size is Lansing-East Lansing, with about 2,460.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Ann Arbor?
Yes: $270 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,600 and $50,330.
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.