Administrative Assistant salary in Rocky Mount, NC
Hiring an administrative assistant costs less in Rocky Mount than in North Carolina or the country as a whole. The median is $42,840 a year1: 6.4% below the North Carolina statewide median of $45,790 and 9.9% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #331 of 520 areas. About 510 administrative assistants work here, 1% of the North Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Rocky Mount, NC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Rocky Mount against North Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount, NC | $30,510 | $42,840 | $59,400 | |
| North Carolina | $31,720 | $45,790 | $61,750 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $59,400, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Rocky Mount earns $37,630–$50,810. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,180 wide, against $13,770 across North Carolina and $19,170 nationally: employers in Rocky Mount 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 | $30,510 | $2,542 | $14.67 | $39,368 |
| 25th percentile | $37,630 | $3,136 | $18.09 | $48,555 |
| Median | $42,840 | $3,570 | $20.60 | $55,277 |
| 75th percentile | $50,810 | $4,234 | $24.43 | $65,561 |
| 90th percentile | $59,400 | $4,950 | $28.56 | $76,645 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $7,970 over the median, the 25th only $5,210 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $10,284 a year in employer cost. 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 Rocky Mount, and the North Carolina statewide median of $45,790 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Rocky Mount
At the $42,840 median, a local hire costs about $55,277 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,437 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 Rocky Mount
Of the 17 roles we track in Rocky Mount, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($44,320) and medical administrative assistants ($41,480). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,010.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +14.7% | 120 | |
| Bookkeeper | +3.5% | 590 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 510 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -3.2% | 420 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -7.2% | 40 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Rocky Mount (-9.9%), between medical administrative assistants (-9.7%) and project coordinators (-11.1%). The typical role here is at -12.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 11.4% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Rocky Mount, 8.3% across North Carolina and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in North Carolina
Across the 18 areas of North Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $38,590 in Jacksonville to $48,500 in Raleigh-Cary, a gap of $9,910 a year. Of the 14 areas in North Carolina with more administrative assistants than Rocky Mount, 5 pay less, the largest of them the Western North Carolina nonmetro area ($41,410), the Eastern North Carolina nonmetro area ($41,250) and the Central North Carolina nonmetro area ($41,260).
| Area | Median | vs Rocky Mount | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | +4.2% | 730 | |
| Greenville, NC | +3.5% | 540 | |
| Asheville, NC | +3.3% | 1,550 | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | this area | 510 | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | -0.4% | 370 | |
| Fayetteville, NC | -1.0% | 1,100 | |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | -2.6% | 1,140 |
Rocky Mount against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Rocky Mount is #457 of 520 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside North Carolina, Mobile and Clarksville pay just above Rocky Mount and New Orleans-Metairie and Killeen-Temple just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Rocky Mount. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Rocky Mount | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | +33.0% | 510 | jobs | |
| Bozeman, MT | +10.7% | 520 | jobs | |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | +5.1% | 520 | jobs | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | +0.0% | 1,020 | pay | |
| Mobile, AL | +0.0% | 3,780 | pay | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | this area | 510 | ||
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | -0.0% | 6,180 | pay | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | -0.2% | 1,560 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Rocky Mount, NC?
About $55,277 a year at the median, or $4,606 a month: $42,840 in pay plus about $12,437 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Rocky Mount?
The median was $42,840 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $30,510, the 90th $59,400, and the middle half earned $37,630 to $50,810.
Is Rocky Mount cheaper than the rest of North Carolina for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $42,840 against $45,790 statewide. The next area up in North Carolina is Asheville at $44,240, the next down Pinehurst-Southern Pines at $42,660.
How many administrative assistants work in Rocky Mount?
BLS counts about 510 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the North Carolina total of 43,690. 14 areas in North Carolina have more; the closest in size is Greenville, with about 540.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Rocky Mount?
Yes: $1,360 a year more at the median. The medians are $42,840 and $41,480.
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.