Administrative Assistant salary in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
The Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $39,320 a year1 is 15.0% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270, and 17.3% below the US median of $47,540. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#433 of 520). About 1,750 administrative assistants work here, 3% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | $28,790 | $39,320 | $56,160 | |
| Pennsylvania | $32,040 | $46,270 | $61,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area earns $34,590–$46,610. The top tenth earns $56,160 or more, 2.0 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 $12,020 wide, against $15,110 across Pennsylvania and $19,170 nationally: employers in the Northwestern Pennsylvania 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 | $28,790 | $2,399 | $13.84 | $37,148 |
| 25th percentile | $34,590 | $2,882 | $16.63 | $44,632 |
| Median | $39,320 | $3,277 | $18.90 | $50,735 |
| 75th percentile | $46,610 | $3,884 | $22.41 | $60,142 |
| 90th percentile | $56,160 | $4,680 | $27.00 | $72,465 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $7,290 over the median, the 25th only $4,730 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $9,406 a year in employer cost. 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 75th and 90th percentiles in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 falls between the median and the 75th percentile. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local administrative assistants earn.
What a hire really costs in the Northwestern Pennsylvania 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 $11,415 to the $39,320 median and brings it to $50,735 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 Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, this one ranks #15 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($39,370) and data entry specialists ($38,660). Project Coordinator is the highest at $84,080.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.1% | 650 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +0.1% | 1,570 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 1,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -1.7% | 60 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.5% | 900 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area (-17.3%), between paralegals (-16.9%) and project coordinators (-17.8%). The typical role here is at -14.9%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 16.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 11.4% across Pennsylvania and 10.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $38,660 in Johnstown to $48,850 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $10,190 a year. All 10 areas in Pennsylvania with more administrative assistants than the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area also pay more, among them Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($48,850) and Pittsburgh, PA ($45,550).
| Area | Median | vs the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsport, PA | +10.5% | 570 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | +10.4% | 490 | |
| Erie, PA | +6.4% | 1,240 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +0.2% | 1,760 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,750 | |
| Altoona, PA | -0.8% | 640 | |
| Johnstown, PA | -1.7% | 700 |
the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #181 of 520 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Gainesville and Beckley pay just above the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area and El Paso and Twin Falls just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | +19.9% | 1,770 | jobs | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | +3.0% | 1,770 | jobs | |
| Beckley, WV | +0.1% | 490 | pay | |
| Gainesville, GA | +0.0% | 830 | pay | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,750 | ||
| El Paso, TX | -0.1% | 3,720 | pay | |
| Twin Falls, ID | -0.2% | 330 | pay | |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | -1.3% | 1,760 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro)?
About $50,735 a year at the median, or $4,228 a month: $39,320 in pay plus about $11,415 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $39,320 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,790, the 90th $56,160, and the middle half earned $34,590 to $46,610.
Is the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $39,320 against $46,270 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area at $39,380, the next down Altoona at $39,010.
How many administrative assistants work in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,750 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Pennsylvania total of 65,310. 10 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, with about 1,760.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a data entry specialist in the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Yes: $660 a year more at the median. The medians are $39,320 and $38,660.
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.