Administrative Assistant salary in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
The West Central Illinois nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for administrative assistants: the median of $41,150 a year1 is 14.8% below the Illinois statewide median of $48,310, and 13.4% below the US median of $47,540. Among US areas it comes in at #376 of 520. BLS counts about 2,290 people in this job here, 3% of the Illinois total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area against Illinois and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | $31,200 | $41,150 | $59,480 | |
| Illinois | $31,930 | $48,310 | $76,790 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Administrative assistants at the 90th percentile earn $59,480, 1.9 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.0. The middle half of administrative assistants in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area earns $35,470–$49,140. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $13,670 wide, against $22,130 across Illinois and $19,170 nationally: employers in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area 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 | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 | $40,258 |
| 25th percentile | $35,470 | $2,956 | $17.05 | $45,768 |
| Median | $41,150 | $3,429 | $19.78 | $53,097 |
| 75th percentile | $49,140 | $4,095 | $23.62 | $63,406 |
| 90th percentile | $59,480 | $4,957 | $28.60 | $76,748 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,990 a year in pay and about $10,310 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,680 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.
For scale, the US median of $47,540 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, and the Illinois statewide median of $48,310 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $11,947 to the $41,150 median and brings it to $53,097 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 fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between customer support specialists ($41,760) and medical administrative assistants ($38,590). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,300.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +9.0% | 640 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +1.5% | 1,930 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 2,290 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -6.2% | 940 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -11.9% | 120 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #10 of the 17 roles we track in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area (-13.4%), between office managers (-13.1%) and recruiters (-13.9%). The typical role here is at -13.1%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Administrative assistants hold 17.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, 12.1% across Illinois and 10.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 12 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $37,040 in the South Illinois nonmetro area to $51,880 in Bloomington, a gap of $14,840 a year. Of the 2 areas in Illinois with more administrative assistants than the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the South Illinois nonmetro area ($37,040).
| Area | Median | vs the West Central Illinois nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | +12.1% | 1,360 | |
| Decatur, IL | +11.5% | 500 | |
| Kankakee, IL | +8.7% | 540 | |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | +7.3% | 1,670 | |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | +6.6% | 1,860 | |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,290 | |
| South Illinois (Nonmetro) | -10.0% | 2,700 |
the West Central Illinois nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Central Illinois nonmetro area is #136 of 520 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Illinois, Goldsboro and Wichita pay just above the West Central Illinois nonmetro area and Lake Havasu City-Kingman and Morristown just below. All four are within $330 a year of the median in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Central Illinois nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | +30.7% | 2,310 | jobs | |
| Ann Arbor, MI | +23.0% | 2,290 | jobs | |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | +1.1% | 2,260 | jobs | |
| Wichita, KS | +0.8% | 6,290 | pay | |
| Goldsboro, NC | +0.6% | 320 | pay | |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | this area | 2,290 | ||
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -0.0% | 740 | pay | |
| Morristown, TN | -0.3% | 440 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in West Central Illinois (Nonmetro)?
About $53,097 a year at the median, or $4,425 a month: $41,150 in pay plus about $11,947 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do administrative assistants earn in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
The median was $41,150 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,200, the 90th $59,480, and the middle half earned $35,470 to $49,140.
Is the West Central Illinois nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Illinois for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $41,150 against $48,310 statewide. The next area up in Illinois is the East Central Illinois nonmetro area at $43,870, the next down the South Illinois nonmetro area at $37,040.
How many administrative assistants work in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 2,290 in the May 2025 survey. That is 3% of the Illinois total of 74,280. Only Chicago-Naperville and the South Illinois nonmetro area have more in Illinois.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than a medical administrative assistant in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
Yes: $2,560 a year more at the median. The medians are $41,150 and $38,590.
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.