Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $53,660 a year[1], 10.4% below the District of Columbia median of $59,910 and 12.9% above the US median of $47,540. Only 31 of 520 US areas pay more for this job. About 37,010 administrative assistants work here.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $37,890 | $53,660 | $79,660 | |
| District of Columbia | $39,480 | $59,910 | $84,290 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $79,660, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in Washington-Arlington earns $44,750–$64,090.
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 | $37,890 | $3,158 | $18.22 | $54,129 |
| 25th percentile | $44,750 | $3,729 | $21.51 | $63,929 |
| Median | $53,660 | $4,472 | $25.80 | $76,657 |
| 75th percentile | $64,090 | $5,341 | $30.81 | $91,557 |
| 90th percentile | $79,660 | $6,638 | $38.30 | $113,800 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $10,430 a year in pay and about $14,900 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,910 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 Washington-Arlington
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $22,997 to the $53,660 median and brings it to $76,657 a year. 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 Washington-Arlington
Of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington, this one ranks #12 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +136.7% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +90.3% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | +87.9% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | +68.3% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +62.4% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | +52.0% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +45.6% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | +42.4% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +18.2% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | +10.5% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | +10.2% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -10.0% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -11.3% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -13.9% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -20.2% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -23.1% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $76,657 a year at the median, or $6,388 a month: $53,660 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 do administrative assistants earn in Washington-Arlington?
The median was $53,660 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,890, the 90th $79,660, and the middle half earned $44,750 to $64,090.
How many administrative assistants work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 37,010 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $5,380 a year more at the median. The medians are $53,660 and $48,280.
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.