Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in Kansas City, MO-KS
Kansas City is the most expensive place in Missouri to hire an administrative assistant. The median is $46,810 a year[1], 7.5% above the Missouri statewide median of $43,540 and 1.5% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #175 of 520. It is the largest market for the job in Missouri: about 15,930 people.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Kansas City, MO-KS. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Kansas City against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $33,680 | $46,810 | $61,720 | |
| Missouri | $30,890 | $43,540 | $60,270 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Kansas City earns $38,590–$53,600. The top tenth earns $61,720 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times.
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 | $33,680 | $2,807 | $16.19 | $48,114 |
| 25th percentile | $38,590 | $3,216 | $18.55 | $55,129 |
| Median | $46,810 | $3,901 | $22.50 | $66,871 |
| 75th percentile | $53,600 | $4,467 | $25.77 | $76,571 |
| 90th percentile | $61,720 | $5,143 | $29.67 | $88,171 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $6,790 a year in pay and about $9,700 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,220 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Kansas City
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $20,061 to the $46,810 median and brings it to $66,871 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Kansas City
Of the 17 roles we track in Kansas City, this one ranks #13 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $101,050 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $37,210.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +115.9% | 8,380 | |
| Accountant | +71.0% | 11,260 | |
| Recruiter | +60.6% | 6,950 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +55.1% | 6,920 | |
| Office Manager | +42.7% | 8,860 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +38.8% | 9,250 | |
| Executive Assistant | +37.7% | 2,940 | |
| Paralegal | +36.5% | 2,900 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +20.9% | 1,260 | |
| HR Assistant | +11.4% | 400 | |
| Bookkeeper | +8.8% | 8,780 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +1.9% | 290 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 15,930 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -3.5% | 4,680 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -5.3% | 22,240 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -16.9% | 920 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -20.5% | 6,750 |
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.
| Area | Median | vs Kansas City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | this area | 15,930 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | -1.3% | 15,000 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -9.8% | 630 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -12.5% | 1,880 | |
| Springfield, MO | -13.1% | 2,540 | |
| Columbia, MO | -15.2% | 1,350 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -17.7% | 990 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Kansas City, MO-KS?
About $66,871 a year at the median, or $5,573 a month: $46,810 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Kansas City?
The median was $46,810 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $33,680, the 90th $61,720, and the middle half earned $38,590 to $53,600.
Is Kansas City the most expensive area in Missouri for administrative assistants?
Yes. Its median of $46,810 is the highest of 12 areas in Missouri. St. Louis comes next at $46,200.
How many administrative assistants work in Kansas City?
BLS counts about 15,930 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Kansas City?
Yes: $1,650 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,810 and $45,160.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes436014.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.