Administrative Assistant salary in Sumter, SC
Sumter is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $40,210 a year1 is 10.4% below the South Carolina statewide median of $44,880, and 15.4% below the US median of $47,540. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#403 of 520). BLS counts about 410 people in this job here, 1% of the South Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Sumter, SC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Sumter against South Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sumter, SC | $24,590 | $40,210 | $59,020 | |
| South Carolina | $29,100 | $44,880 | $61,660 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $59,020 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth, against 2.0 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of administrative assistants in Sumter earns $33,170–$49,700. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $16,530 wide, between the figure for South Carolina ($15,540) 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 | $24,590 | $2,049 | $11.82 | $31,729 |
| 25th percentile | $33,170 | $2,764 | $15.95 | $42,800 |
| Median | $40,210 | $3,351 | $19.33 | $51,884 |
| 75th percentile | $49,700 | $4,142 | $23.89 | $64,129 |
| 90th percentile | $59,020 | $4,918 | $28.38 | $76,155 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,040 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $9,490, or about $12,245 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 Sumter, and the South Carolina statewide median of $44,880 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Sumter
At the $40,210 median, a local hire costs about $51,884 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $11,674 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 Sumter
Of the 13 roles we track in Sumter, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($43,810) and medical administrative assistants ($39,380). Project Coordinator is the highest at $87,730.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paralegal | +16.3% | 90 | |
| Bookkeeper | +9.0% | 280 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 410 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -2.1% | 190 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -2.8% | 990 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #7 of the 13 roles we track in Sumter (-15.4%), between medical administrative assistants (-14.3%) and office managers (-15.7%). The typical role here is at -15.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 12.5% of the jobs in these 13 roles in Sumter, 12.3% across South Carolina and 11.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in South Carolina
Across the 11 areas of South Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $38,480 in the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area to $47,750 in Charleston-North Charleston, a gap of $9,270 a year. Of the 10 areas in South Carolina with more administrative assistants than Sumter, 2 pay less: the Northeastern South Carolina nonmetro area ($38,480) and the Southern South Carolina nonmetro area ($39,990).
| Area | Median | vs Sumter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SC | +8.8% | 1,700 | |
| Florence, SC | +4.8% | 1,050 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | +4.0% | 1,100 | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | +0.7% | 1,770 | |
| Sumter, SC | this area | 410 | |
| Southern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | -0.5% | 790 | |
| Northeastern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | -4.3% | 1,040 |
Sumter against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Sumter is #489 of 520 US areas for this job. It is a small market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside South Carolina, Sierra Vista-Douglas and Montgomery pay just above Sumter and Bowling Green and Johnson City just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Sumter. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Sumter | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah, KY-IL | +4.0% | 410 | jobs | |
| Montgomery, AL | +0.1% | 4,060 | pay | |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | +0.0% | 360 | pay | |
| Sumter, SC | this area | 410 | ||
| Bowling Green, KY | -0.1% | 780 | pay | |
| Johnson City, TN | -0.4% | 1,030 | pay | |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | -2.8% | 410 | jobs | |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | -3.4% | 400 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Sumter, SC?
About $51,884 a year at the median, or $4,324 a month: $40,210 in pay plus about $11,674 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Sumter?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $40,210 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $24,590, the 90th $59,020, and the middle half earned $33,170 to $49,700.
Is Sumter cheaper than the rest of South Carolina for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $40,210 against $44,880 statewide. The next area up in South Carolina is Myrtle Beach-Conway at $40,490, the next down the Southern South Carolina nonmetro area at $39,990.
How many administrative assistants work in Sumter?
BLS counts about 410 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the South Carolina total of 30,180. 10 areas in South Carolina have more; the closest in size is the Southern South Carolina nonmetro area, with about 790.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Sumter?
Yes: $830 a year more at the median. The medians are $40,210 and $39,380.
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.