Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA
Portland-Vancouver is a higher-paying market for administrative assistants: the median of $55,360 a year[1] is 7.0% above the Oregon statewide median of $51,740, and 16.4% above the US median of $47,540. Only 18 of 520 US areas pay more for this job. With about 13,510 administrative assistants, no area in Oregon employs more.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Portland-Vancouver against Oregon and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA | $40,640 | $55,360 | $72,750 | |
| Oregon | $38,480 | $51,740 | $70,320 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Portland-Vancouver earns $47,280–$63,310. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $72,750, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.0 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read.
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 | $40,640 | $3,387 | $19.54 | $58,057 |
| 25th percentile | $47,280 | $3,940 | $22.73 | $67,543 |
| Median | $55,360 | $4,613 | $26.62 | $79,086 |
| 75th percentile | $63,310 | $5,276 | $30.44 | $90,443 |
| 90th percentile | $72,750 | $6,062 | $34.98 | $103,929 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,950 a year in pay and about $11,357 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,080 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 Portland-Vancouver
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $23,726 to the $55,360 median and brings it to $79,086 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Portland-Vancouver
Of the 17 roles we track in Portland-Vancouver, this one ranks #11 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $108,340 and Data Entry Specialist the lowest at $42,760.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +95.7% | 14,440 | |
| Accountant | +66.5% | 10,100 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +54.2% | 8,130 | |
| Recruiter | +44.7% | 7,610 | |
| Executive Assistant | +42.3% | 3,880 | |
| Office Manager | +38.0% | 7,740 | |
| Paralegal | +36.3% | 3,510 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +35.3% | 7,530 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +15.9% | 1,850 | |
| Bookkeeper | +3.0% | 12,170 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 13,510 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.3% | 640 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -1.4% | 8,290 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -5.1% | 460 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -12.1% | 12,720 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -21.2% | 8,340 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -22.8% | 880 |
Other areas in Oregon
Across the 11 areas of Oregon with data for this job, the median runs from $45,380 in the Eastern Oregon nonmetro area to $55,660 in Salem, a gap of $10,280 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Portland-Vancouver | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | +0.5% | 3,220 | |
| Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA | this area | 13,510 | |
| Corvallis, OR | -9.7% | 560 | |
| Bend, OR | -9.9% | 1,110 | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | -11.2% | 1,670 | |
| Medford, OR | -12.7% | 880 | |
| Albany, OR | -14.0% | 610 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA?
About $79,086 a year at the median, or $6,590 a month: $55,360 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 Portland-Vancouver?
The median was $55,360 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,640, the 90th $72,750, and the middle half earned $47,280 to $63,310.
Is Portland-Vancouver cheaper than the rest of Oregon for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $55,360 against $51,740 statewide. Salem pays the most ($55,660) and the Eastern Oregon nonmetro area the least ($45,380).
How many administrative assistants work in Portland-Vancouver?
BLS counts about 13,510 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an HR assistant in Portland-Vancouver?
Yes: $170 a year more at the median. The medians are $55,360 and $55,190.
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.