Administrative Assistant salary in Lincoln, NE
For this job Lincoln sits right at the US figure, with a median of $47,230 a year1. That is about level with the US median of $47,540, and 1.0% above the Nebraska statewide median of $46,760. Among US areas it comes in at #154 of 520. About 2,890 administrative assistants work here, 18% of the Nebraska total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Lincoln, NE. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Lincoln against Nebraska and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | $37,440 | $47,230 | $60,830 | |
| Nebraska | $35,900 | $46,760 | $62,130 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Lincoln earns $41,970–$52,780. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $60,830, 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 $10,810 wide, against $14,370 across Nebraska and $19,170 nationally: employers in Lincoln 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 | $37,440 | $3,120 | $18.00 | $48,310 |
| 25th percentile | $41,970 | $3,498 | $20.18 | $54,155 |
| Median | $47,230 | $3,936 | $22.71 | $60,942 |
| 75th percentile | $52,780 | $4,398 | $25.38 | $68,103 |
| 90th percentile | $60,830 | $5,069 | $29.25 | $78,490 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $5,550 a year in pay and about $7,161 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,260 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.
For scale, the US median of $47,540 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Lincoln, and the Nebraska statewide median of $46,760 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Lincoln
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 $13,712 to the $47,230 median and brings it to $60,942 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 Lincoln
Of the 17 roles we track in Lincoln, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($47,930) and HR assistants ($46,280). Executive Assistant is the highest at $65,410.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +24.4% | 750 | |
| Bookkeeper | +1.5% | 1,660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 2,890 | |
| HR Assistant | -2.0% | 130 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -3.0% | 930 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Lincoln (-0.7%), between medical administrative assistants (-0.2%) and paralegals (-2.3%). The typical role here is at -8.6%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Lincoln than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 15.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Lincoln, 16.3% across Nebraska and 10.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Nebraska
Across the 6 areas of Nebraska with data for this job, the median runs from $43,710 in the Northwest Nebraska nonmetro area to $47,760 in Omaha, a gap of $4,050 a year. The one area in Nebraska with more administrative assistants, Omaha, NE-IA ($47,760), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Lincoln | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | +1.1% | 7,090 | |
| Lincoln, NE | this area | 2,890 | |
| Grand Island, NE | -5.9% | 540 | |
| Northeast Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -6.9% | 1,500 | |
| South Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -7.1% | 2,720 | |
| Northwest Nebraska (Nonmetro) | -7.5% | 700 |
Lincoln against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Lincoln is #104 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Nebraska, Lafayette-West Lafayette and Green Bay pay just above Lincoln and Atlantic City-Hammonton and Vineland just below. All four are within $40 a year of the median in Lincoln. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Lincoln | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | +10.1% | 2,930 | jobs | |
| Green Bay, WI | +0.1% | 1,540 | pay | |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | +0.1% | 1,310 | pay | |
| Lincoln, NE | this area | 2,890 | ||
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | -0.0% | 2,530 | pay | |
| Vineland, NJ | -0.0% | 820 | pay | |
| Lancaster, PA | -2.0% | 2,960 | jobs | |
| Topeka, KS | -16.4% | 2,920 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Lincoln, NE?
About $60,942 a year at the median, or $5,078 a month: $47,230 in pay plus about $13,712 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Lincoln?
The median was $47,230 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,440, the 90th $60,830, and the middle half earned $41,970 to $52,780.
Is Lincoln cheaper than the rest of Nebraska for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $47,230 against $46,760 statewide. The next area up in Nebraska is Omaha at $47,760, the next down Grand Island at $44,450.
How many administrative assistants work in Lincoln?
BLS counts about 2,890 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the Nebraska total of 16,240. Only Omaha has more in Nebraska.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an HR assistant in Lincoln?
Yes: $950 a year more at the median. The medians are $47,230 and $46,280.
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.