Administrative Assistant salary in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of Rhode Island, and it is Providence-Warwick. The median is $51,800 a year1, about level with the Rhode Island statewide median of $52,140 and 9.0% above the US median of $47,540. Nationally that is #48 of 520 areas, in the top tenth. About 7,020 administrative assistants work here.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Providence-Warwick, RI-MA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Providence-Warwick against Rhode Island and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $37,970 | $51,800 | $72,740 | |
| Rhode Island | $38,000 | $52,140 | $72,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $72,740, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Providence-Warwick earns $44,440–$61,480. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $17,040 wide, between the figure for Rhode Island ($16,860) 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 | $37,970 | $3,164 | $18.25 | $48,994 |
| 25th percentile | $44,440 | $3,703 | $21.37 | $57,342 |
| Median | $51,800 | $4,317 | $24.90 | $66,839 |
| 75th percentile | $61,480 | $5,123 | $29.56 | $79,329 |
| 90th percentile | $72,740 | $6,062 | $34.97 | $93,858 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,360 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,680, or about $12,490 once benefits are added. 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 25th percentile and the median in Providence-Warwick, and the Rhode Island statewide median of $52,140 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Providence-Warwick
At the $51,800 median, a local hire costs about $66,839 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $15,039 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 Providence-Warwick
Of the 17 roles we track in Providence-Warwick, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between HR assistants ($53,580) and e-commerce order specialists ($49,390). Project Coordinator is the highest at $104,510.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +5.5% | 6,400 | |
| HR Assistant | +3.4% | 220 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 7,020 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -4.7% | 230 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.9% | 10,620 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Providence-Warwick (+9.0%), between virtual receptionists (+9.8%) and bookkeepers (+7.8%). The typical role here is at +5.9%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Providence-Warwick than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 10.6% of the jobs in the 16 of these roles with a job count in Providence-Warwick, 10.3% across Rhode Island and 11.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Providence-Warwick against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Providence-Warwick is #43 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Rhode Island, Bloomington and Visalia pay just above Providence-Warwick and Santa Maria-Santa Barbara and Merced just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Providence-Warwick. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Providence-Warwick | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford-West Hartford, CT | +8.0% | 6,980 | jobs | |
| Visalia, CA | +0.2% | 1,390 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IL | +0.2% | 930 | pay | |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | this area | 7,020 | ||
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | +0.0% | 1,930 | pay | |
| Merced, CA | -0.2% | 620 | pay | |
| Omaha, NE-IA | -7.8% | 7,090 | jobs | |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -19.2% | 7,070 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Providence-Warwick, RI-MA?
About $66,839 a year at the median, or $5,570 a month: $51,800 in pay plus about $15,039 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Providence-Warwick?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $51,800 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,970, the 90th $72,740, and the middle half earned $44,440 to $61,480.
How many administrative assistants work in Providence-Warwick?
BLS counts about 7,020 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Providence-Warwick?
Yes: $2,410 a year more at the median. The medians are $51,800 and $49,390.
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.