Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
The median administrative assistant in Los Angeles-Long Beach earned $53,550 a year in May 2025[1]. That is 12.6% above the US median of $47,540, even though it is 3.3% below the California statewide median of $55,400. Only 32 of 520 US areas pay more for this job. It is the largest market for the job in California: about 58,800 people, 37% of the California total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | $36,420 | $53,550 | $76,510 | |
| California | $38,060 | $55,400 | $78,170 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $76,510, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Los Angeles-Long Beach earns $44,720–$64,290.
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 | $36,420 | $3,035 | $17.51 | $52,029 |
| 25th percentile | $44,720 | $3,727 | $21.50 | $63,886 |
| Median | $53,550 | $4,462 | $25.75 | $76,500 |
| 75th percentile | $64,290 | $5,358 | $30.91 | $91,843 |
| 90th percentile | $76,510 | $6,376 | $36.78 | $109,300 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $10,740 a year in pay and about $15,343 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,830 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach
At the $53,550 median, a local hire costs about $76,500 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $22,950 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Los Angeles-Long Beach
Of the 17 roles we track in Los Angeles-Long Beach, this one ranks #12 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $108,310 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $43,280.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +102.3% | 38,540 | |
| Accountant | +76.2% | 70,640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +55.0% | 39,390 | |
| Executive Assistant | +54.7% | 20,850 | |
| Recruiter | +49.8% | 36,850 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +48.4% | 50,470 | |
| Office Manager | +44.8% | 54,340 | |
| Paralegal | +44.8% | 22,240 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +21.5% | 6,600 | |
| Bookkeeper | +9.4% | 53,910 | |
| HR Assistant | +7.6% | 3,890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 58,800 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -4.0% | 40,380 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.8% | 66,590 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.2% | 5,900 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -13.0% | 5,740 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -19.2% | 35,000 |
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.
| Area | Median | vs Los Angeles-Long Beach | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | +1.2% | 300 | |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks, CA | +1.2% | 2,980 | |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +0.4% | 2,310 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | this area | 58,800 | |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | -1.2% | 13,210 | |
| North Coast Region of California (Nonmetro) | -1.2% | 1,120 | |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California (Nonmetro) | -1.2% | 560 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA?
About $76,500 a year at the median, or $6,375 a month: $53,550 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach?
The median was $53,550 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $36,420, the 90th $76,510, and the middle half earned $44,720 to $64,290.
Is Los Angeles-Long Beach cheaper than the rest of California for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $53,550 against $55,400 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($62,940) and El Centro the least ($49,150).
How many administrative assistants work in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
BLS counts about 58,800 in the May 2025 survey. That is 37% of the California total of 158,630.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Los Angeles-Long Beach?
Yes: $2,140 a year more at the median. The medians are $53,550 and $51,410.
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 2026-11-05.