Administrative Assistant salary in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA
Hiring an administrative assistant costs less in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre than in Pennsylvania or the country as a whole. The median is $44,260 a year1: 4.3% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 and 6.9% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #277 of 520 areas. About 2,670 administrative assistants work here, 4% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | $31,200 | $44,260 | $58,890 | |
| Pennsylvania | $32,040 | $46,270 | $61,800 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $58,890, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre earns $36,670–$48,800. The mean ($44,200) 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 $12,130 wide, against $15,110 across Pennsylvania and $19,170 nationally: employers in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre 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 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 | $40,258 |
| 25th percentile | $36,670 | $3,056 | $17.63 | $47,316 |
| Median | $44,260 | $3,688 | $21.28 | $57,110 |
| 75th percentile | $48,800 | $4,067 | $23.46 | $62,968 |
| 90th percentile | $58,890 | $4,908 | $28.31 | $75,987 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $4,540 over it, while the 25th sits $7,590 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $5,858 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 Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $46,270 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre
At the $44,260 median, a local hire costs about $57,110 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,850 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 Scranton-Wilkes-Barre
Of the 17 roles we track in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($46,860) and medical administrative assistants ($44,060). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,820.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | +10.8% | 120 | |
| Bookkeeper | +5.9% | 1,840 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 2,670 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -0.5% | 1,000 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.4% | 70 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre (-6.9%), between virtual receptionists (-6.2%) and bookkeepers (-7.5%). The typical role here is at -10.0%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 13.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, 11.4% across Pennsylvania and 10.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
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. All 5 areas in Pennsylvania with more administrative assistants than Scranton-Wilkes-Barre also pay more, among them Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($48,850) and Pittsburgh, PA ($45,550).
| Area | Median | vs Scranton-Wilkes-Barre | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambersburg, PA | +2.5% | 620 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | +1.4% | 1,820 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +0.3% | 1,890 | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | this area | 2,670 | |
| Lebanon, PA | -0.8% | 630 | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -1.8% | 2,200 | |
| Williamsport, PA | -1.9% | 570 |
Scranton-Wilkes-Barre against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre is #111 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, Port St. Lucie and Greenville pay just above Scranton-Wilkes-Barre and Asheville and Kokomo just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Scranton-Wilkes-Barre | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | +15.1% | 2,730 | jobs | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | +4.2% | 2,650 | jobs | |
| Greenville, NC | +0.2% | 540 | pay | |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | +0.0% | 1,770 | pay | |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | this area | 2,670 | ||
| Asheville, NC | -0.0% | 1,550 | pay | |
| Kokomo, IN | -0.1% | 200 | pay | |
| Tallahassee, FL | -10.0% | 2,620 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA?
About $57,110 a year at the median, or $4,759 a month: $44,260 in pay plus about $12,850 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre?
The median was $44,260 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,200, the 90th $58,890, and the middle half earned $36,670 to $48,800.
Is Scranton-Wilkes-Barre cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $44,260 against $46,270 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area at $44,380, the next down Lebanon at $43,900.
How many administrative assistants work in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre?
BLS counts about 2,670 in the May 2025 survey. That is 4% of the Pennsylvania total of 65,310. 5 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is Lancaster, with about 2,960.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Scranton-Wilkes-Barre?
Yes: $200 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,260 and $44,060.
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.