Administrative Assistant salary in Waco, TX
Waco is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $43,310 a year1 is 4.1% below the Texas statewide median of $45,140, and 8.9% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #319 of 520. About 1,470 administrative assistants work here.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Waco, TX. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Waco against Texas and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco, TX | $29,810 | $43,310 | $62,010 | |
| Texas | $29,810 | $45,140 | $63,020 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $62,010, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Waco earns $35,680–$51,940. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $16,260 wide, against $17,510 across Texas and $19,170 nationally: employers in Waco 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 | $29,810 | $2,484 | $14.33 | $38,465 |
| 25th percentile | $35,680 | $2,973 | $17.15 | $46,039 |
| Median | $43,310 | $3,609 | $20.82 | $55,884 |
| 75th percentile | $51,940 | $4,328 | $24.97 | $67,019 |
| 90th percentile | $62,010 | $5,168 | $29.81 | $80,013 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,630 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $8,630, or about $11,135 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 Waco, and the Texas statewide median of $45,140 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Waco
At the $43,310 median, a local hire costs about $55,884 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $12,574 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 Waco
Of the 17 roles we track in Waco, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between HR assistants ($44,790) and data entry specialists ($39,220). Project Coordinator is the highest at $78,580.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +6.9% | 1,200 | |
| HR Assistant | +3.4% | 40 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 1,470 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -9.4% | 180 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -10.4% | 3,260 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Waco (-8.9%), between bookkeepers (-8.6%) and accountants (-9.0%). The typical role here is at -12.5%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Waco than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 11.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Waco, 9.5% across Texas and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Texas
Across the 32 areas of Texas with data for this job, the median runs from $36,310 in Eagle Pass to $48,470 in Austin-Round Rock, a gap of $12,160 a year. Of the 16 areas in Texas with more administrative assistants than Waco, 10 pay less, the largest of them El Paso, TX ($39,280), the North Region of Texas nonmetro area ($40,050) and McAllen-Edinburg, TX ($39,010).
| Area | Median | vs Waco | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherman-Denison, TX | +0.9% | 530 | |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | +0.3% | 12,260 | |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | +0.0% | 1,980 | |
| Waco, TX | this area | 1,470 | |
| Northwestern Region of Texas (Nonmetro) | +0.0% | 2,930 | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | -1.3% | 1,560 | |
| Corpus Christi, TX | -1.4% | 2,150 |
Waco against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Waco is #222 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Texas, Great Falls and Gettysburg pay just above Waco and Elkhart-Goshen and Savannah just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in Waco. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Waco | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CA | +32.4% | 1,500 | jobs | |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | +22.7% | 1,450 | jobs | |
| Utica-Rome, NY | +6.5% | 1,490 | jobs | |
| Gettysburg, PA | +0.2% | 490 | pay | |
| Great Falls, MT | +0.2% | 300 | pay | |
| Waco, TX | this area | 1,470 | ||
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | -0.1% | 720 | pay | |
| Savannah, GA | -0.3% | 1,560 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Waco, TX?
About $55,884 a year at the median, or $4,657 a month: $43,310 in pay plus about $12,574 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Waco?
The median was $43,310 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,810, the 90th $62,010, and the middle half earned $35,680 to $51,940.
Is Waco cheaper than the rest of Texas for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $43,310 against $45,140 statewide. The next area up in Texas is Beaumont-Port Arthur at $43,310, the next down the Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetro area at $43,310.
How many administrative assistants work in Waco?
BLS counts about 1,470 in the May 2025 survey. 16 areas in Texas have more; the closest in size is Killeen-Temple, with about 1,560.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a data entry specialist in Waco?
Yes: $4,090 a year more at the median. The medians are $43,310 and $39,220.
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.