Administrative Assistant salary in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
The Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $43,460 a year1 is 6.1% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270, and 8.6% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #309 of 520. BLS counts about 2,200 people in this job here, 3% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | $30,930 | $43,460 | $59,330 | |
| Pennsylvania | $32,040 | $46,270 | $61,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area earns $37,200–$48,600. The top tenth earns $59,330 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $11,400 wide, against $15,110 across Pennsylvania and $19,170 nationally: employers in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
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 | $30,930 | $2,578 | $14.87 | $39,910 |
| 25th percentile | $37,200 | $3,100 | $17.88 | $48,000 |
| Median | $43,460 | $3,622 | $20.89 | $56,077 |
| 75th percentile | $48,600 | $4,050 | $23.37 | $62,710 |
| 90th percentile | $59,330 | $4,944 | $28.52 | $76,555 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,260 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,140, or about $6,632 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 the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
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 $12,617 to the $43,460 median and brings it to $56,077 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 the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($44,620) and medical administrative assistants ($43,370). Project Coordinator is the highest at $87,860.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +9.2% | 80 | |
| Bookkeeper | +2.7% | 1,450 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 2,200 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -0.2% | 880 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.3% | 2,160 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area (-8.6%), between virtual receptionists (-7.3%) and data entry specialists (-8.6%). The typical role here is at -12.0%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 16.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 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. All 6 areas in Pennsylvania with more administrative assistants than the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area also pay more, among them Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($48,850) and Pittsburgh, PA ($45,550).
| Area | Median | vs the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +2.1% | 1,890 | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | +1.8% | 2,670 | |
| Lebanon, PA | +1.0% | 630 | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,200 | |
| Williamsport, PA | -0.0% | 570 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | -0.1% | 490 | |
| Erie, PA | -3.7% | 1,240 |
the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #143 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Charleston and Pensacola-Ferry Pass pay just above the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area and San Antonio-New Braunfels and Great Falls just below. All four are within $200 a year of the median in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ogden, UT | +5.9% | 2,210 | jobs | |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL | +0.5% | 1,790 | pay | |
| Charleston, WV | +0.2% | 1,630 | pay | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,200 | ||
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | -0.0% | 12,260 | pay | |
| Great Falls, MT | -0.1% | 300 | pay | |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | -11.2% | 2,200 | jobs | |
| Lafayette, LA | -12.4% | 2,210 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro)?
About $56,077 a year at the median, or $4,673 a month: $43,460 in pay plus about $12,617 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
The median was $43,460 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,930, the 90th $59,330, and the middle half earned $37,200 to $48,600.
Is the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $43,460 against $46,270 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Lebanon at $43,900, the next down Williamsport at $43,440.
How many administrative assistants work in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 2,200 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Pennsylvania total of 65,310. 6 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, with about 2,670.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Yes: $90 a year more at the median. The medians are $43,460 and $43,370.
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.