Administrative Assistant salary in Fresno, CA
The median administrative assistant in Fresno earned $50,100 a year in May 20251. That is 5.4% above the US median of $47,540, even though it is 9.6% below the California statewide median of $55,400. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#69 of 520). BLS counts about 3,870 people in this job here, 2% of the California total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Fresno, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Fresno against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $37,400 | $50,100 | $69,670 | |
| California | $38,060 | $55,400 | $78,170 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $69,670, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Fresno earns $44,490–$60,440. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $15,950 wide, against $19,010 across California and $19,170 nationally: employers in Fresno 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 | $37,400 | $3,117 | $17.98 | $48,258 |
| 25th percentile | $44,490 | $3,708 | $21.39 | $57,406 |
| Median | $50,100 | $4,175 | $24.09 | $64,645 |
| 75th percentile | $60,440 | $5,037 | $29.06 | $77,987 |
| 90th percentile | $69,670 | $5,806 | $33.50 | $89,897 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $10,340 over the median, the 25th only $5,610 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $13,342 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 Fresno, and the California statewide median of $55,400 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Fresno
At the $50,100 median, a local hire costs about $64,645 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,545 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 Fresno
Of the 17 roles we track in Fresno, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between HR assistants ($50,210) and medical administrative assistants ($48,120). Project Coordinator is the highest at $101,030.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +8.1% | 4,310 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.2% | 310 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 3,870 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -4.0% | 3,410 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.0% | 4,550 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Fresno (+5.4%), between bookkeepers (+6.9%) and data entry specialists (+5.2%). The typical role here is at +1.3%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Fresno than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 11.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Fresno, 9.5% across California and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $49,150 in El Centro to $62,940 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $13,790 a year. All 6 areas in California with more administrative assistants than Fresno also pay more, among them Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA ($53,550) and San Francisco-Oakland, CA ($62,110).
| Area | Median | vs Fresno | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuba City, CA | +2.8% | 520 | |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | +1.8% | 1,170 | |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +1.7% | 2,730 | |
| Fresno, CA | this area | 3,870 | |
| Redding, CA | -0.3% | 580 | |
| Chico, CA | -0.6% | 810 | |
| El Centro, CA | -1.9% | 540 |
Fresno against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Fresno is #72 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside California, Santa Fe and Burlington-South Burlington pay just above Fresno and Honolulu and Pittsfield just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Fresno. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Fresno | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | +0.2% | 1,200 | pay | |
| Santa Fe, NM | +0.1% | 2,410 | pay | |
| Fresno, CA | this area | 3,870 | ||
| Honolulu, HI | -0.2% | 5,130 | pay | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -0.2% | 600 | pay | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -5.3% | 3,770 | jobs | |
| North Port-Bradenton, FL | -7.4% | 3,830 | jobs | |
| Mobile, AL | -14.5% | 3,780 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Fresno, CA?
About $64,645 a year at the median, or $5,387 a month: $50,100 in pay plus about $14,545 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Fresno?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $50,100 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,400, the 90th $69,670, and the middle half earned $44,490 to $60,440.
Is Fresno cheaper than the rest of California for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $50,100 against $55,400 statewide. The next area up in California is Bakersfield-Delano at $50,960, the next down Redding at $49,940.
How many administrative assistants work in Fresno?
BLS counts about 3,870 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the California total of 158,630. 6 areas in California have more; the closest in size is San Jose-Sunnyvale, with about 7,970.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Fresno?
Yes: $1,980 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,100 and $48,120.
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.