Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in New York-Newark, NY-NJ
Administrative assistants earn more in New York-Newark than anywhere else in New York. Expect a median of $51,440 a year[1], 3.7% above the New York statewide median of $49,600 and 8.2% above the US median of $47,540. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#55 of 520). It is the largest market for the job in New York: about 122,680 people.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in New York-Newark against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | $37,440 | $51,440 | $70,160 | |
| New York | $37,330 | $49,600 | $64,840 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $70,160, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in New York-Newark earns $45,140–$61,150.
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 | $53,486 |
| 25th percentile | $45,140 | $3,762 | $21.70 | $64,486 |
| Median | $51,440 | $4,287 | $24.73 | $73,486 |
| 75th percentile | $61,150 | $5,096 | $29.40 | $87,357 |
| 90th percentile | $70,160 | $5,847 | $33.73 | $100,229 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $9,710 a year in pay and about $13,871 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,300 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 New York-Newark
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $22,046 to the $51,440 median and brings it to $73,486 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 New York-Newark
Of the 17 roles we track in New York-Newark, this one ranks #12 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $126,660 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $44,690.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +146.2% | 68,910 | |
| Accountant | +105.4% | 111,930 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +95.4% | 79,290 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +82.3% | 91,680 | |
| Recruiter | +74.5% | 52,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | +63.0% | 76,950 | |
| Office Manager | +57.0% | 95,180 | |
| Paralegal | +46.4% | 33,850 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +23.4% | 7,770 | |
| Bookkeeper | +17.9% | 77,010 | |
| HR Assistant | +10.5% | 7,640 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 122,680 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.6% | 125,570 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -4.3% | 52,640 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -7.0% | 4,120 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -11.8% | 10,110 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -13.1% | 74,190 |
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $44,450 in Elmira to $51,440 in New York-Newark, a gap of $6,990 a year.
| Area | Median | vs New York-Newark | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | this area | 122,680 | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | -4.1% | 7,690 | |
| Kingston, NY | -5.5% | 920 | |
| Syracuse, NY | -5.7% | 4,950 | |
| Ithaca, NY | -6.7% | 900 | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | -6.9% | 3,620 | |
| Binghamton, NY | -7.5% | 1,420 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in New York-Newark, NY-NJ?
About $73,486 a year at the median, or $6,124 a month: $51,440 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 New York-Newark?
The median was $51,440 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,440, the 90th $70,160, and the middle half earned $45,140 to $61,150.
Is New York-Newark the most expensive area in New York for administrative assistants?
Yes. Its median of $51,440 is the highest of 16 areas in New York. Albany-Schenectady comes next at $49,330.
How many administrative assistants work in New York-Newark?
BLS counts about 122,680 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a customer support specialist in New York-Newark?
Yes: $1,850 a year more at the median. The medians are $51,440 and $49,590.
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.