Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ
Administrative assistants earn more in Philadelphia-Camden than anywhere else in Pennsylvania. Expect a median of $48,850 a year[1], 5.6% above the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 and 2.8% above the US median of $47,540. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#92 of 520). It is the largest market for the job in Pennsylvania: about 32,850 people.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Philadelphia-Camden against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | $35,660 | $48,850 | $65,560 | |
| Pennsylvania | $32,040 | $46,270 | $61,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $65,560, 1.8 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Philadelphia-Camden earns $41,280–$58,910.
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 | $35,660 | $2,972 | $17.14 | $50,943 |
| 25th percentile | $41,280 | $3,440 | $19.85 | $58,971 |
| Median | $48,850 | $4,071 | $23.49 | $69,786 |
| 75th percentile | $58,910 | $4,909 | $28.32 | $84,157 |
| 90th percentile | $65,560 | $5,463 | $31.52 | $93,657 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $10,060 a year in pay and about $14,371 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $7,570 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.
What a hire really costs in Philadelphia-Camden
At the $48,850 median, a local hire costs about $69,786 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $20,936 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Philadelphia-Camden
Of the 17 roles we track in Philadelphia-Camden, this one ranks #12 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,160 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,030.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +113.2% | 17,210 | |
| Accountant | +76.0% | 29,370 | |
| Executive Assistant | +62.7% | 7,150 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +62.6% | 17,600 | |
| Recruiter | +57.0% | 16,000 | |
| Office Manager | +48.8% | 28,900 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +45.4% | 19,260 | |
| Paralegal | +44.2% | 11,150 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +20.4% | 2,410 | |
| Bookkeeper | +7.9% | 22,660 | |
| HR Assistant | +4.0% | 1,630 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 32,850 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.1% | 1,220 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -3.5% | 15,550 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -3.6% | 41,740 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -15.5% | 2,340 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -22.1% | 22,210 |
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.
| Area | Median | vs Philadelphia-Camden | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ | this area | 32,850 | |
| State College, PA | -2.4% | 1,140 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | -2.9% | 3,770 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | -3.6% | 4,130 | |
| Lancaster, PA | -5.3% | 2,960 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -6.8% | 12,160 | |
| Reading, PA | -6.9% | 1,700 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ?
About $69,786 a year at the median, or $5,815 a month: $48,850 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Philadelphia-Camden?
The median was $48,850 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,660, the 90th $65,560, and the middle half earned $41,280 to $58,910.
Is Philadelphia-Camden the most expensive area in Pennsylvania for administrative assistants?
Yes. Its median of $48,850 is the highest of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. State College comes next at $47,700.
How many administrative assistants work in Philadelphia-Camden?
BLS counts about 32,850 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Philadelphia-Camden?
Yes: $540 a year more at the median. The medians are $48,850 and $48,310.
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. Last updated 2026-11-06.