Administrative Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Tennessee
The median administrative assistant in Tennessee earned $45,810 a year in May 2025[1], 3.6% below the US median of $47,540. That puts Tennessee at #32 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-6014. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $29,660 | $45,810 | $63,130 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Tennessee earns $37,040–$54,000; the top tenth earns $63,130 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Tennessee median that makes about $65,443 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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].
Pay by metro area in Tennessee
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $58,710 | 12,100 | |
| Knoxville, TN | $51,530 | 4,790 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $54,020 | 5,500 | |
| Cleveland, TN | $49,440 | 390 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $49,770 | 1,020 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $49,960 | 2,470 | |
| Morristown, TN | $50,010 | 440 | |
| Jackson, TN | $49,450 | 850 | |
| Johnson City, TN | $46,640 | 1,030 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $49,390 | 1,190 | |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,330 | 1,420 | |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,100 | 1,310 | |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,380 | 1,350 | |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,090 | 1,220 |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN pays the most ($49,000) and South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area the least ($38,230): $10,770 a year apart for the same job.
What an administrative assistant does
An administrative assistant keeps the office running on paper and online: documents, data, scheduling, orders and the many small requests that land on a small team every day.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | +0.5% | |
| Florida | +0.2% | |
| Tennessee | +0.0% | |
| North Carolina | -0.0% | |
| Wyoming | -0.8% |
Questions
How much does an administrative assistant earn in Tennessee?
The median was $45,810 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $37,040 to $54,000.
What does it cost to employ an administrative assistant in Tennessee?
About $65,443 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Tennessee do administrative assistants earn the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, with a median of $49,000 a year.
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 2026-11-05.