Administrative Assistant salary in Jefferson City, MO
Jefferson City is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $40,980 a year1 is 5.9% below the Missouri statewide median of $43,540, and 13.8% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #381 of 520 areas. BLS counts about 1,880 people in this job here, 6% of the Missouri total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Jefferson City, MO. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Jefferson City against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, MO | $35,170 | $40,980 | $55,870 | |
| Missouri | $30,890 | $43,540 | $60,270 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Jefferson City earns $37,690–$47,670. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $55,870, only 1.6 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 only $9,980 wide, against $13,180 across Missouri and $19,170 nationally: employers in Jefferson City 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 | $35,170 | $2,931 | $16.91 | $45,381 |
| 25th percentile | $37,690 | $3,141 | $18.12 | $48,632 |
| Median | $40,980 | $3,415 | $19.70 | $52,877 |
| 75th percentile | $47,670 | $3,972 | $22.92 | $61,510 |
| 90th percentile | $55,870 | $4,656 | $26.86 | $72,090 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $6,690 over the median, the 25th only $3,290 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $8,632 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 Jefferson City, and the Missouri statewide median of $43,540 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Jefferson City
At the $40,980 median, a local hire costs about $52,877 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,897 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 Jefferson City
Of the 16 roles we track in Jefferson City, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between e-commerce order specialists ($41,210) and customer support specialists ($38,990). Project Coordinator is the highest at $79,980.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +10.2% | 70 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +0.6% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 1,880 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -4.9% | 1,360 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -5.0% | 170 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #8 of the 16 roles we track in Jefferson City (-13.8%), between payroll specialists (-13.5%) and medical administrative assistants (-15.3%). The typical role here is at -14.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 22.7% of the jobs in these 16 roles in Jefferson City, 12.0% across Missouri and 10.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $37,180 in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area to $46,810 in Kansas City, a gap of $9,630 a year. Of the 4 areas in Missouri with more administrative assistants than Jefferson City, 2 pay less: Springfield, MO ($40,690) and the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area ($37,180).
| Area | Median | vs Jefferson City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +14.2% | 15,930 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +12.7% | 15,000 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | +3.0% | 630 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | this area | 1,880 | |
| Springfield, MO | -0.7% | 2,540 | |
| Columbia, MO | -3.2% | 1,350 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -6.0% | 990 |
Jefferson City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Jefferson City is #165 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Missouri, Las Cruces and Morristown pay just above Jefferson City and Baton Rouge and Lubbock just below. All four are within $130 a year of the median in Jefferson City. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Jefferson City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | +34.6% | 1,830 | jobs | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +26.4% | 1,930 | jobs | |
| Springfield, MA | +25.6% | 1,900 | jobs | |
| Morristown, TN | +0.1% | 440 | pay | |
| Las Cruces, NM | +0.1% | 2,360 | pay | |
| Jefferson City, MO | this area | 1,880 | ||
| Baton Rouge, LA | -0.2% | 5,950 | pay | |
| Lubbock, TX | -0.3% | 1,910 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Jefferson City, MO?
About $52,877 a year at the median, or $4,406 a month: $40,980 in pay plus about $11,897 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Jefferson City?
The median was $40,980 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,170, the 90th $55,870, and the middle half earned $37,690 to $47,670.
Is Jefferson City cheaper than the rest of Missouri for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,980 against $43,540 statewide. The next area up in Missouri is St. Joseph at $42,210, the next down Springfield at $40,690.
How many administrative assistants work in Jefferson City?
BLS counts about 1,880 in the May 2025 survey. That is 6% of the Missouri total of 33,180. 4 areas in Missouri have more; the closest in size is the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area, with about 1,920.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a customer support specialist in Jefferson City?
Yes: $1,990 a year more at the median. The medians are $40,980 and $38,990.
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.