Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in St. Louis, MO-IL
St. Louis pays administrative assistants more than Missouri as a whole but less than the country. The median is $46,200 a year[1]: 6.1% above the Missouri statewide median of $43,540 and 2.8% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #197 of 520 areas. About 15,000 administrative assistants work here.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area St. Louis, MO-IL. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in St. Louis against Missouri and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $32,070 | $46,200 | $62,040 | |
| Missouri | $30,890 | $43,540 | $60,270 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $62,040, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in St. Louis earns $38,200–$53,550.
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 | $32,070 | $2,672 | $15.42 | $45,814 |
| 25th percentile | $38,200 | $3,183 | $18.37 | $54,571 |
| Median | $46,200 | $3,850 | $22.21 | $66,000 |
| 75th percentile | $53,550 | $4,462 | $25.75 | $76,500 |
| 90th percentile | $62,040 | $5,170 | $29.83 | $88,629 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,350 a year in pay and about $10,500 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,000 in pay. 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 St. Louis
At the $46,200 median, a local hire costs about $66,000 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $19,800 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 St. Louis
Of the 17 roles we track in St. Louis, this one ranks #12 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,510 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $36,470.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +117.6% | 10,450 | |
| Accountant | +70.7% | 13,610 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +60.5% | 6,980 | |
| Recruiter | +55.1% | 8,130 | |
| Office Manager | +48.5% | 9,840 | |
| Executive Assistant | +37.4% | 3,990 | |
| Paralegal | +34.1% | 4,030 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +31.7% | 7,750 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +28.1% | 1,530 | |
| Bookkeeper | +8.2% | 9,950 | |
| HR Assistant | +3.8% | 490 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 15,000 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -0.9% | 23,760 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -1.3% | 6,570 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -2.4% | 450 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -15.3% | 910 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -21.1% | 8,700 |
Other areas in Missouri
Across the 12 areas of Missouri with data for this job, the median runs from $37,180 in the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area to $46,810 in Kansas City, a gap of $9,630 a year.
| Area | Median | vs St. Louis | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | +1.3% | 15,930 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | this area | 15,000 | |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -8.6% | 630 | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -11.3% | 1,880 | |
| Springfield, MO | -11.9% | 2,540 | |
| Columbia, MO | -14.1% | 1,350 | |
| Joplin, MO-KS | -16.6% | 990 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in St. Louis, MO-IL?
About $66,000 a year at the median, or $5,500 a month: $46,200 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 St. Louis?
The median was $46,200 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,070, the 90th $62,040, and the middle half earned $38,200 to $53,550.
Is St. Louis cheaper than the rest of Missouri for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $46,200 against $43,540 statewide. Kansas City pays the most ($46,810) and the Southeast Missouri nonmetro area the least ($37,180).
How many administrative assistants work in St. Louis?
BLS counts about 15,000 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a customer support specialist in St. Louis?
Yes: $400 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,200 and $45,800.
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.