Administrative Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Wisconsin
The median administrative assistant in Wisconsin earned $47,710 a year in May 2025[1], 0.4% above the US median of $47,540. That puts Wisconsin at #21 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $36,680 | $47,710 | $61,940 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Wisconsin earns $42,360–$56,030; the top tenth earns $61,940 or more, 1.7 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 Wisconsin median that makes about $68,157 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 Wisconsin
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | $60,150 | 4,630 | |
| Kenosha, WI | $57,530 | 650 | |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $57,870 | 7,930 | |
| Appleton, WI | $55,640 | 1,180 | |
| Sheboygan, WI | $54,080 | 480 | |
| Green Bay, WI | $55,790 | 1,540 | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $53,810 | 790 | |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $53,870 | 790 | |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $53,370 | 670 | |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $54,080 | 720 | |
| Wausau, WI | $53,830 | 590 | |
| Eau Claire, WI | $54,950 | 720 | |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $51,170 | 370 | |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $49,680 | 1,130 | |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $49,490 | 1,900 | |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $49,760 | 1,830 | |
| Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $49,060 | 440 |
Madison, WI pays the most ($51,410) and Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area the least ($44,720): $6,690 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 Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | +0.5% | |
| Arizona | +0.5% | |
| Wisconsin | +0.0% | |
| Virginia | -0.2% | |
| North Dakota | -0.5% |
Questions
How much does an administrative assistant earn in Wisconsin?
The median was $47,710 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $42,360 to $56,030.
What does it cost to employ an administrative assistant in Wisconsin?
About $68,157 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Wisconsin do administrative assistants earn the most?
Madison, WI, with a median of $51,410 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.