Administrative Assistant salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $45,550 a year1 is 1.6% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270, and 4.2% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #233 of 520 areas. BLS counts about 12,160 people in this job here, 19% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Pittsburgh, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Pittsburgh against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $30,470 | $45,550 | $60,270 | |
| Pennsylvania | $32,040 | $46,270 | $61,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $60,270, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Pittsburgh earns $37,440–$50,610. The mean ($45,150) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,170 wide, against $15,110 across Pennsylvania and $19,170 nationally: employers in Pittsburgh 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 | $30,470 | $2,539 | $14.65 | $39,316 |
| 25th percentile | $37,440 | $3,120 | $18.00 | $48,310 |
| Median | $45,550 | $3,796 | $21.90 | $58,774 |
| 75th percentile | $50,610 | $4,218 | $24.33 | $65,303 |
| 90th percentile | $60,270 | $5,022 | $28.98 | $77,768 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $5,060 over it, while the 25th sits $8,110 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $6,529 more a year with benefits. 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 Pittsburgh, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Pittsburgh
At the $45,550 median, a local hire costs about $58,774 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,224 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 Pittsburgh
Of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between HR assistants ($45,900) and medical administrative assistants ($44,260). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,320.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +2.3% | 450 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.8% | 480 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 12,160 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -2.8% | 6,020 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.1% | 17,280 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh (-4.2%), between medical administrative assistants (-3.6%) and customer support specialists (-4.4%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 11.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Pittsburgh, 11.4% across Pennsylvania and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
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. The one area in Pennsylvania with more administrative assistants, Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($48,850), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | +4.1% | 3,770 | |
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | +3.4% | 4,130 | |
| Lancaster, PA | +1.6% | 2,960 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 12,160 | |
| Reading, PA | -0.1% | 1,700 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | -0.4% | 620 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | -1.5% | 1,820 |
Pittsburgh against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Pittsburgh is #25 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Pennsylvania, Monroe and Columbia pay just above Pittsburgh and Grand Junction and Boise City just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Pittsburgh. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | +21.6% | 12,070 | jobs | |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | +7.6% | 12,100 | jobs | |
| Columbia, SC | +0.2% | 6,610 | pay | |
| Monroe, MI | +0.0% | 330 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 12,160 | ||
| Grand Junction, CO | -0.1% | 950 | pay | |
| Boise City, ID | -0.2% | 3,380 | pay | |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | -2.6% | 12,220 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Pittsburgh, PA?
About $58,774 a year at the median, or $4,898 a month: $45,550 in pay plus about $13,224 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Pittsburgh?
The median was $45,550 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,470, the 90th $60,270, and the middle half earned $37,440 to $50,610.
Is Pittsburgh cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,550 against $46,270 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Lancaster at $46,270, the next down Reading at $45,500.
How many administrative assistants work in Pittsburgh?
BLS counts about 12,160 in the May 2025 survey. That is 19% of the Pennsylvania total of 65,310. Only Philadelphia-Camden has more in Pennsylvania.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Pittsburgh?
Yes: $1,290 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,550 and $44,260.
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.