Administrative Assistant salary in Sioux City, IA-NE
For this job Sioux City sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $45,950 a year1. That is 1.8% above the Iowa statewide median of $45,150, and 3.3% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #216 of 520 areas. BLS counts about 640 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Sioux City, IA-NE-SD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Sioux City against Iowa and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE | $34,920 | $45,950 | $61,360 | |
| Iowa | $33,880 | $45,150 | $60,760 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Sioux City earns $38,040–$51,910. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $61,360, only 1.8 times the bottom tenth, against 2.0 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $13,870 wide, between the figure for Iowa ($13,030) 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 | $34,920 | $2,910 | $16.79 | $45,058 |
| 25th percentile | $38,040 | $3,170 | $18.29 | $49,084 |
| Median | $45,950 | $3,829 | $22.09 | $59,290 |
| 75th percentile | $51,910 | $4,326 | $24.96 | $66,981 |
| 90th percentile | $61,360 | $5,113 | $29.50 | $79,174 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,910 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $5,960, or about $7,690 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 median and the 75th percentile in Sioux City, and the Iowa statewide median of $45,150 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Sioux City
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $13,340 to the $45,950 median and brings it to $59,290 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Sioux City
Of the 15 roles we track in Sioux City, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($47,390) and data entry specialists ($44,550). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,130.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +19.5% | 240 | |
| Bookkeeper | +3.1% | 690 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 640 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -3.0% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -8.8% | 400 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #3 of the 15 roles we track in Sioux City (-3.3%), between virtual receptionists (+1.0%) and payroll specialists (-4.0%). The typical role here is at -8.8%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Sioux City than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 12.0% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Sioux City, 9.5% across Iowa and 10.9% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Iowa
Across the 12 areas of Iowa with data for this job, the median runs from $39,810 in the Northwest Iowa nonmetro area to $48,740 in Ames, a gap of $8,930 a year. Of the 8 areas in Iowa with more administrative assistants than Sioux City, 6 pay less, the largest of them Davenport-Moline, IA-IL ($45,710), the Southeast Iowa nonmetro area ($42,640) and Cedar Rapids, IA ($45,110).
| Area | Median | vs Sioux City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | +6.1% | 620 | |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | +3.4% | 3,110 | |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | +0.6% | 720 | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | this area | 640 | |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | -0.5% | 1,670 | |
| Dubuque, IA | -1.1% | 440 | |
| Iowa City, IA | -1.2% | 630 |
Sioux City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Sioux City is #408 of 520 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Iowa, Memphis and Winchester pay just above Sioux City and Fond du Lac and Palm Bay-Melbourne just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Sioux City. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Sioux City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glens Falls, NY | +1.3% | 640 | jobs | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | +0.1% | 650 | pay | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | +0.0% | 5,500 | pay | |
| Sioux City, IA-NE | this area | 640 | ||
| Fond du Lac, WI | -0.1% | 370 | pay | |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL | -0.1% | 2,330 | pay | |
| Punta Gorda, FL | -5.0% | 640 | jobs | |
| Altoona, PA | -15.1% | 640 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Sioux City, IA-NE?
About $59,290 a year at the median, or $4,941 a month: $45,950 in pay plus about $13,340 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Sioux City?
The median was $45,950 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,920, the 90th $61,360, and the middle half earned $38,040 to $51,910.
Is Sioux City cheaper than the rest of Iowa for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $45,950 against $45,150 statewide. The next area up in Iowa is Waterloo-Cedar Falls at $46,230, the next down Davenport-Moline at $45,710.
How many administrative assistants work in Sioux City?
BLS counts about 640 in the May 2025 survey. 8 areas in Iowa have more; the closest in size is the Southwest Iowa nonmetro area, with about 680.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a data entry specialist in Sioux City?
Yes: $1,400 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,950 and $44,550.
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.