Administrative Assistant salary in Tucson, AZ
Tucson is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $45,030 a year1 is 6.1% below the Arizona statewide median of $47,940, and 5.3% below the US median of $47,540. Nationally it ranks #250 of 520 areas. BLS counts about 3,630 people in this job here, 12% of the Arizona total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Tucson, AZ. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Tucson against Arizona and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | $35,010 | $45,030 | $60,600 | |
| Arizona | $36,420 | $47,940 | $67,980 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Tucson earns $37,840–$49,350. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $60,600, only 1.7 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 only $11,510 wide, against $15,350 across Arizona and $19,170 nationally: employers in Tucson 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 | $35,010 | $2,918 | $16.83 | $45,174 |
| 25th percentile | $37,840 | $3,153 | $18.19 | $48,826 |
| Median | $45,030 | $3,752 | $21.65 | $58,103 |
| 75th percentile | $49,350 | $4,112 | $23.73 | $63,677 |
| 90th percentile | $60,600 | $5,050 | $29.13 | $78,194 |
Local pay is bunched just above the median: the 75th percentile is only $4,320 over it, while the 25th sits $7,190 below. Moving an offer from the median to the 75th percentile costs about $5,574 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 Tucson, and the Arizona statewide median of $47,940 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Tucson
At the $45,030 median, a local hire costs about $58,103 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,073 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 Tucson
Of the 17 roles we track in Tucson, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between HR assistants ($45,830) and data entry specialists ($42,140). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,500.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +2.9% | 80 | |
| HR Assistant | +1.8% | 180 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 3,630 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -6.4% | 320 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -7.6% | 2,050 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #4 of the 17 roles we track in Tucson (-5.3%), between virtual receptionists (-2.6%) and bookkeepers (-6.9%). The typical role here is at -10.1%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Tucson than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 10.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Tucson, 8.9% across Arizona and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Arizona
Across the 8 areas of Arizona with data for this job, the median runs from $40,230 in Sierra Vista-Douglas to $48,800 in Phoenix-Mesa, a gap of $8,570 a year. The one area in Arizona with more administrative assistants, Phoenix-Mesa, AZ ($48,800), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Tucson | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | +8.4% | 22,010 | |
| Flagstaff, AZ | +2.2% | 550 | |
| Tucson, AZ | this area | 3,630 | |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -0.9% | 830 | |
| Arizona (Nonmetro) | -2.5% | 1,310 | |
| Yuma, AZ | -5.9% | 690 | |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -8.6% | 740 |
Tucson against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Tucson is #80 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 Arizona, Odessa and Roanoke pay just above Tucson and Muskegon-Norton Shores and Evansville just below. All four are within $70 a year of the median in Tucson. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Tucson | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | +20.0% | 3,680 | jobs | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | +6.3% | 3,620 | jobs | |
| Dayton-Kettering, OH | +2.8% | 3,640 | jobs | |
| Roanoke, VA | +0.2% | 1,230 | pay | |
| Odessa, TX | +0.1% | 920 | pay | |
| Tucson, AZ | this area | 3,630 | ||
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | -0.0% | 520 | pay | |
| Evansville, IN | -0.1% | 820 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Tucson, AZ?
About $58,103 a year at the median, or $4,842 a month: $45,030 in pay plus about $13,073 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in Tucson?
The median was $45,030 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,010, the 90th $60,600, and the middle half earned $37,840 to $49,350.
Is Tucson cheaper than the rest of Arizona for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $45,030 against $47,940 statewide. The next area up in Arizona is Flagstaff at $46,010, the next down Prescott Valley-Prescott at $44,610.
How many administrative assistants work in Tucson?
BLS counts about 3,630 in the May 2025 survey. That is 12% of the Arizona total of 31,220. Only Phoenix-Mesa has more in Arizona.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a data entry specialist in Tucson?
Yes: $2,890 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,030 and $42,140.
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.