Administrative Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Pennsylvania
The median administrative assistant in Pennsylvania earned $46,270 a year in May 2025[1], 2.7% below the US median of $47,540. That puts Pennsylvania at #28 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-6014. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $32,040 | $46,270 | $61,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Pennsylvania earns $37,980–$53,090; the top tenth earns $61,800 or more, 1.9 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Pennsylvania median that makes about $66,100 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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].
Pay by metro area in Pennsylvania
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $58,910 | 32,850 | |
| State College, PA | $51,720 | 1,140 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $53,970 | 3,770 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $56,430 | 4,130 | |
| Lancaster, PA | $51,070 | 2,960 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $50,610 | 12,160 | |
| Reading, PA | $51,470 | 1,700 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | $52,420 | 620 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | $50,120 | 1,820 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $49,780 | 1,890 | |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $48,800 | 2,670 | |
| Lebanon, PA | $48,840 | 630 | |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,600 | 2,200 | |
| Williamsport, PA | $48,080 | 570 | |
| Gettysburg, PA | $48,970 | 490 | |
| Erie, PA | $48,820 | 1,240 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,160 | 1,760 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $46,610 | 1,750 | |
| Altoona, PA | $47,210 | 640 | |
| Johnstown, PA | $46,030 | 700 |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD pays the most ($48,850) and Johnstown, PA the least ($38,660): $10,190 a year apart for the same job.
What an administrative assistant does
An administrative assistant keeps the office running on paper and online: documents, data, scheduling, orders and the many small requests that land on a small team every day.
Neighbours in the ranking
Questions
How much does an administrative assistant earn in Pennsylvania?
The median was $46,270 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $37,980 to $53,090.
What does it cost to employ an administrative assistant in Pennsylvania?
About $66,100 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Pennsylvania do administrative assistants earn the most?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, with a median of $48,850 a year.
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. Data checked 2026-10-16.