Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Budget above the national rate here. The median administrative assistant in San Francisco-Oakland earned $62,110 a year in May 2025[1], 12.1% above the California statewide median of $55,400 and 30.6% above the US median of $47,540. Nationally that is #3 of 520 areas, in the top tenth. About 20,270 administrative assistants work here, 13% of the California total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Francisco-Oakland against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | $45,550 | $62,110 | $90,220 | |
| California | $38,060 | $55,400 | $78,170 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $90,220, 2.0 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in San Francisco-Oakland earns $51,700–$77,660.
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 | $45,550 | $3,796 | $21.90 | $65,071 |
| 25th percentile | $51,700 | $4,308 | $24.86 | $73,857 |
| Median | $62,110 | $5,176 | $29.86 | $88,729 |
| 75th percentile | $77,660 | $6,472 | $37.34 | $110,943 |
| 90th percentile | $90,220 | $7,518 | $43.38 | $128,886 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $10,410 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $15,550, or about $22,214 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.
What a hire really costs in San Francisco-Oakland
At the $62,110 median, a local hire costs about $88,729 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $26,619 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 San Francisco-Oakland
Of the 17 roles we track in San Francisco-Oakland, this one ranks #12 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $135,040 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $49,450.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +117.4% | 20,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +98.4% | 24,120 | |
| Accountant | +78.3% | 25,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | +69.4% | 11,250 | |
| Recruiter | +66.1% | 16,420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +56.1% | 29,980 | |
| Office Manager | +42.6% | 19,480 | |
| Paralegal | +35.3% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +29.6% | 2,260 | |
| HR Assistant | +7.1% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | +5.5% | 18,100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 20,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -1.3% | 13,660 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.9% | 19,930 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -17.2% | 1,250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -17.5% | 1,410 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -20.4% | 8,510 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $49,150 in El Centro to $62,940 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $13,790 a year.
| Area | Median | vs San Francisco-Oakland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +1.3% | 7,970 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | this area | 20,270 | |
| Napa, CA | -5.3% | 630 | |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | -7.1% | 2,150 | |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | -7.4% | 960 | |
| Salinas, CA | -7.7% | 1,500 | |
| Vallejo, CA | -9.4% | 1,110 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in San Francisco-Oakland, CA?
About $88,729 a year at the median, or $7,394 a month: $62,110 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 is the pay range for administrative assistants in San Francisco-Oakland?
The median was $62,110 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $45,550, the 90th $90,220, and the middle half earned $51,700 to $77,660.
Is San Francisco-Oakland cheaper than the rest of California for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $62,110 against $55,400 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($62,940) and El Centro the least ($49,150).
How many administrative assistants work in San Francisco-Oakland?
BLS counts about 20,270 in the May 2025 survey. That is 13% of the California total of 158,630.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in San Francisco-Oakland?
Yes: $780 a year more at the median. The medians are $62,110 and $61,330.
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.