Administrative Assistant salary in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
The Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $45,300 a year1 is 5.1% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $47,710, and 4.7% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #245 of 520. About 1,830 administrative assistants work here, 7% of the Wisconsin total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area against Wisconsin and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | $35,360 | $45,300 | $58,760 | |
| Wisconsin | $36,680 | $47,710 | $61,940 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area earns $39,370–$49,760. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $58,760, only 1.7 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 $10,390 wide, against $13,670 across Wisconsin and $19,170 nationally: employers in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area 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 | $35,360 | $2,947 | $17.00 | $45,626 |
| 25th percentile | $39,370 | $3,281 | $18.93 | $50,800 |
| Median | $45,300 | $3,775 | $21.78 | $58,452 |
| 75th percentile | $49,760 | $4,147 | $23.92 | $64,206 |
| 90th percentile | $58,760 | $4,897 | $28.25 | $75,819 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $5,930 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,460, or about $5,755 once benefits are added. 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 the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, and the Wisconsin statewide median of $47,710 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
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 $13,152 to the $45,300 median and brings it to $58,452 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 the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($45,850) and virtual receptionists ($40,260). Project Coordinator is the highest at $95,680.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +2.6% | 340 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +1.2% | 3,000 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 1,830 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -11.1% | 2,160 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -19.6% | 150 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area (-4.7%), between payroll specialists (-4.4%) and HR assistants (-6.1%). The typical role here is at -9.7%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 11.4% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area, 10.0% across Wisconsin and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Wisconsin
Across the 17 areas of Wisconsin with data for this job, the median runs from $44,720 in the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area to $51,410 in Madison, a gap of $6,690 a year. All 3 areas in Wisconsin with more administrative assistants than the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area also pay more, among them Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($48,480) and Madison, WI ($51,410).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WI | +3.8% | 590 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | +3.7% | 720 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | +1.3% | 370 | |
| Western Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +1.1% | 1,130 | |
| South Central Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | +1.0% | 1,900 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,830 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | -1.3% | 440 |
the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area is #169 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Wisconsin, Dover and Wilmington pay just above the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area and Atlanta-Sandy Springs and Cedar Rapids just below. All four are within $190 a year of the median in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | +21.7% | 1,830 | jobs | |
| Wilmington, NC | +0.2% | 2,070 | pay | |
| Dover, DE | +0.1% | 1,170 | pay | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,830 | ||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | -0.1% | 25,280 | pay | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | -0.4% | 1,290 | pay | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -1.0% | 1,820 | jobs | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | -12.7% | 1,820 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Northeastern Wisconsin (Nonmetro)?
About $58,452 a year at the median, or $4,871 a month: $45,300 in pay plus about $13,152 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
The median was $45,300 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,360, the 90th $58,760, and the middle half earned $39,370 to $49,760.
Is the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Wisconsin for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,300 against $47,710 statewide. The next area up in Wisconsin is the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area at $45,760, the next down the Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetro area at $44,720.
How many administrative assistants work in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,830 in the May 2025 survey. That is 7% of the Wisconsin total of 28,100. 3 areas in Wisconsin have more; the closest in size is the South Central Wisconsin nonmetro area, with about 1,900.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a virtual receptionist in the Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetro area?
Yes: $5,040 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,300 and $40,260.
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.