Administrative Assistant salary in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area
The Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $41,800 a year1 is 6.9% below the South Carolina statewide median of $44,880, and 12.1% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #360 of 520 areas. About 1,100 administrative assistants work here, 4% of the South Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area against South Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | $29,000 | $41,800 | $60,250 | |
| South Carolina | $29,100 | $44,880 | $61,660 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area earns $35,290–$50,850. The top tenth earns $60,250 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $15,560 wide, between the figure for South Carolina ($15,540) and the US figure ($19,170).
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 | $29,000 | $2,417 | $13.94 | $37,419 |
| 25th percentile | $35,290 | $2,941 | $16.97 | $45,535 |
| Median | $41,800 | $3,483 | $20.10 | $53,935 |
| 75th percentile | $50,850 | $4,238 | $24.45 | $65,613 |
| 90th percentile | $60,250 | $5,021 | $28.97 | $77,742 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $9,050 a year in pay and about $11,677 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $6,510 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.
For scale, the US median of $47,540 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area, and the South Carolina statewide median of $44,880 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area
At the $41,800 median, a local hire costs about $53,935 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,135 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 South Carolina nonmetro area
Of the 16 roles we track in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($45,940) and HR assistants ($39,630). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,590.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +14.4% | 70 | |
| Bookkeeper | +9.9% | 750 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 1,100 | |
| HR Assistant | -5.2% | 30 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -8.2% | 100 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #7 of the 16 roles we track in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area (-12.1%), between office managers (-12.0%) and marketing specialists (-12.9%). The typical role here is at -13.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 15.1% of the jobs in these 16 roles in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area, 12.1% across South Carolina and 10.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in South Carolina
Across the 11 areas of South Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $38,480 in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area to $47,750 in Charleston-North Charleston, a gap of $9,270 a year. Of the 5 areas in South Carolina with more administrative assistants than the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area, 1 pays less: Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC ($40,490).
| Area | Median | vs the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | +9.1% | 6,610 | |
| Spartanburg, SC | +4.7% | 1,700 | |
| Florence, SC | +0.8% | 1,050 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,100 | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -3.1% | 1,770 | |
| Sumter, SC | -3.8% | 410 | |
| Southern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | -4.3% | 790 |
the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area is #306 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside South Carolina, Tyler and Morgantown pay just above the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area and Lakeland-Winter Haven and Rapid City just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | +34.6% | 1,110 | jobs | |
| Bend, OR | +19.4% | 1,110 | jobs | |
| Fayetteville, NC | +1.5% | 1,100 | jobs | |
| Morgantown, WV | +0.0% | 790 | pay | |
| Tyler, TX | +0.0% | 1,220 | pay | |
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | this area | 1,100 | ||
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | -0.1% | 2,430 | pay | |
| Rapid City, SD | -0.2% | 990 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro)?
About $53,935 a year at the median, or $4,495 a month: $41,800 in pay plus about $12,135 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area?
The median was $41,800 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,000, the 90th $60,250, and the middle half earned $35,290 to $50,850.
Is the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of South Carolina for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $41,800 against $44,880 statewide. The next area up in South Carolina is Florence at $42,150, the next down Myrtle Beach-Conway at $40,490.
How many administrative assistants work in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 1,100 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the South Carolina total of 30,180. 5 areas in South Carolina have more; the closest in size is Spartanburg, with about 1,700.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an HR assistant in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,170 a year more at the median. The medians are $41,800 and $39,630.
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.