Administrative Assistant salary in Jackson, TN
Jackson is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $40,720 a year1 is 11.1% below the Tennessee statewide median of $45,810, and 14.3% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #385 of 520. About 850 administrative assistants work here, 2% of the Tennessee total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Jackson, TN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Jackson against Tennessee and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | $28,980 | $40,720 | $61,050 | |
| Tennessee | $29,660 | $45,810 | $63,130 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $61,050, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Jackson earns $35,930–$49,450. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,520 wide, against $16,960 across Tennessee and $19,170 nationally: employers in Jackson 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 | $28,980 | $2,415 | $13.93 | $37,394 |
| 25th percentile | $35,930 | $2,994 | $17.27 | $46,361 |
| Median | $40,720 | $3,393 | $19.58 | $52,542 |
| 75th percentile | $49,450 | $4,121 | $23.77 | $63,806 |
| 90th percentile | $61,050 | $5,088 | $29.35 | $78,774 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $8,730 over the median, the 25th only $4,790 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $11,265 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 median and the 75th percentile in Jackson, and the Tennessee statewide median of $45,810 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Jackson
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 $11,822 to the $40,720 median and brings it to $52,542 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 Jackson
Of the 17 roles we track in Jackson, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($45,240) and customer support specialists ($38,680). Project Coordinator is the highest at $81,450.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +13.4% | 100 | |
| Bookkeeper | +11.1% | 800 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 850 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -5.0% | 970 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -6.4% | 1,080 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #8 of the 17 roles we track in Jackson (-14.3%), between accountants (-14.0%) and recruiters (-16.5%). The typical role here is at -16.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 11.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Jackson, 9.5% across Tennessee and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Tennessee
Across the 14 areas of Tennessee with data for this job, the median runs from $38,230 in the South Central Tennessee nonmetro area to $49,000 in Nashville-Murfreesboro, a gap of $10,770 a year. Of the 11 areas in Tennessee with more administrative assistants than Jackson, 6 pay less, the largest of them the West Tennessee nonmetro area ($39,740), the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area ($39,270) and the East Tennessee nonmetro area ($39,440).
| Area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville, TN-KY | +5.2% | 1,020 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | +3.1% | 2,470 | |
| Morristown, TN | +0.8% | 440 | |
| Jackson, TN | this area | 850 | |
| Johnson City, TN | -1.6% | 1,030 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -2.1% | 1,190 | |
| West Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -2.4% | 1,420 |
Jackson against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jackson is #357 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Tennessee, Lubbock and Baton Rouge pay just above Jackson and Tulsa and Weirton-Steubenville just below. All four are within $190 a year of the median in Jackson. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jackson | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | +46.1% | 830 | jobs | |
| Bellingham, WA | +32.2% | 870 | jobs | |
| Bangor, ME | +18.3% | 870 | jobs | |
| Baton Rouge, LA | +0.5% | 5,950 | pay | |
| Lubbock, TX | +0.3% | 1,910 | pay | |
| Jackson, TN | this area | 850 | ||
| Tulsa, OK | -0.0% | 5,060 | pay | |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | -0.0% | 430 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Jackson, TN?
About $52,542 a year at the median, or $4,378 a month: $40,720 in pay plus about $11,822 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Jackson?
The median was $40,720 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,980, the 90th $61,050, and the middle half earned $35,930 to $49,450.
Is Jackson cheaper than the rest of Tennessee for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,720 against $45,810 statewide. The next area up in Tennessee is Morristown at $41,040, the next down Johnson City at $40,060.
How many administrative assistants work in Jackson?
BLS counts about 850 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Tennessee total of 34,580. 11 areas in Tennessee have more; the closest in size is Clarksville, with about 1,020.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a customer support specialist in Jackson?
Yes: $2,040 a year more at the median. The medians are $40,720 and $38,680.
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.