Administrative Assistant salary in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area
The Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $42,350 a year1 is 3.1% below the Idaho statewide median of $43,710, and 10.9% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #345 of 520. BLS counts about 820 people in this job here, 11% of the Idaho total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area against Idaho and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | $29,640 | $42,350 | $54,560 | |
| Idaho | $29,890 | $43,710 | $58,820 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area earns $37,390–$49,350. The top tenth earns $54,560 or more, 1.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $11,960 wide, against $12,580 across Idaho and $19,170 nationally: employers in the Northwestern Idaho 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 | $29,640 | $2,470 | $14.25 | $38,245 |
| 25th percentile | $37,390 | $3,116 | $17.98 | $48,245 |
| Median | $42,350 | $3,529 | $20.36 | $54,645 |
| 75th percentile | $49,350 | $4,112 | $23.73 | $63,677 |
| 90th percentile | $54,560 | $4,547 | $26.23 | $70,400 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,960 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,000, or about $9,032 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 Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area, and the Idaho statewide median of $43,710 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area
At the $42,350 median, a local hire costs about $54,645 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,295 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area
Of the 13 roles we track in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between medical administrative assistants ($44,290) and customer support specialists ($40,290). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,590.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +12.8% | 110 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +4.6% | 410 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 820 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -4.9% | 810 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -13.3% | 360 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #6 of the 13 roles we track in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area (-10.9%), between sales development representatives (-10.3%) and office managers (-15.3%). The typical role here is at -15.3%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 14.7% of the jobs in these 13 roles in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area, 9.3% across Idaho and 11.3% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Idaho
Across the 8 areas of Idaho with data for this job, the median runs from $39,240 in Twin Falls to $47,820 in Lewiston, a gap of $8,580 a year. The one area in Idaho with more administrative assistants, Boise City, ID ($45,480), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | +10.0% | 610 | |
| Boise City, ID | +7.4% | 3,380 | |
| Pocatello, ID | +3.9% | 380 | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | this area | 820 | |
| Southeast-Central Idaho (Nonmetro) | -3.4% | 750 | |
| Idaho Falls, ID | -5.8% | 740 | |
| Twin Falls, ID | -7.3% | 330 |
the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area is #363 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Idaho, Yuma and Fayetteville pay just above the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area and Elizabethtown and Victoria just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale, WA | +40.5% | 830 | jobs | |
| Vineland, NJ | +11.5% | 820 | jobs | |
| Evansville, IN | +6.2% | 820 | jobs | |
| Fayetteville, NC | +0.1% | 1,100 | pay | |
| Yuma, AZ | +0.1% | 690 | pay | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | this area | 820 | ||
| Elizabethtown, KY | -0.0% | 470 | pay | |
| Victoria, TX | -0.3% | 440 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro)?
About $54,645 a year at the median, or $4,554 a month: $42,350 in pay plus about $12,295 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area?
The median was $42,350 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,640, the 90th $54,560, and the middle half earned $37,390 to $49,350.
Is the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Idaho for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $42,350 against $43,710 statewide. The next area up in Idaho is Pocatello at $43,990, the next down the Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetro area at $40,900.
How many administrative assistants work in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 820 in the May 2025 survey. That is 11% of the Idaho total of 7,570. Only Boise City has more in Idaho.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a customer support specialist in the Northwestern Idaho nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,060 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,350 and $40,290.
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.