Administrative Assistant salary in Worcester, MA
The median administrative assistant in Worcester earned $52,450 a year in May 20251. That is 10.3% above the US median of $47,540, even though it is 9.5% below the Massachusetts statewide median of $57,940. Only 40 of 520 US areas pay more for this job. BLS counts about 3,550 people in this job here, 9% of the Massachusetts total.
BLS occupation 43-6014, area Worcester, MA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Worcester against Massachusetts and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | $40,430 | $52,450 | $69,770 | |
| Massachusetts | $41,510 | $57,940 | $78,400 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in Worcester earns $46,760–$61,480. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $69,770, 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 $14,720 wide, against $16,090 across Massachusetts and $19,170 nationally: employers in Worcester 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 | $40,430 | $3,369 | $19.44 | $52,168 |
| 25th percentile | $46,760 | $3,897 | $22.48 | $60,335 |
| Median | $52,450 | $4,371 | $25.22 | $67,677 |
| 75th percentile | $61,480 | $5,123 | $29.56 | $79,329 |
| 90th percentile | $69,770 | $5,814 | $33.54 | $90,026 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $9,030 over the median, the 25th only $5,690 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $11,652 a year in employer cost. 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 25th percentile and the median in Worcester, and the Massachusetts statewide median of $57,940 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Worcester
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 $15,227 to the $52,450 median and brings it to $67,677 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 Worcester
Of the 17 roles we track in Worcester, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($56,350) and HR assistants ($49,850). Project Coordinator is the highest at $100,290.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +14.5% | 260 | |
| Bookkeeper | +7.4% | 2,780 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 3,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -5.0% | 120 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -8.7% | 100 |
Measured against the US median, administrative assistants rank #7 of the 17 roles we track in Worcester (+10.3%), between sales development representatives (+10.6%) and virtual receptionists (+9.8%). The typical role here is at +6.2%, so, measured against the US, administrative assistants cost more in Worcester than the area's general pay level would suggest. Administrative assistants hold 11.0% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Worcester, 9.7% across Massachusetts and 10.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Massachusetts
Across the 7 areas of Massachusetts with data for this job, the median runs from $49,990 in Pittsfield to $59,330 in Boston-Cambridge, a gap of $9,340 a year. The one area in Massachusetts with more administrative assistants, Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH ($59,330), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Worcester | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | +13.1% | 28,540 | |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | +7.4% | 560 | |
| Barnstable Town, MA | +4.9% | 990 | |
| Worcester, MA | this area | 3,550 | |
| Springfield, MA | -1.9% | 1,900 | |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | -2.6% | 1,250 | |
| Pittsfield, MA | -4.7% | 600 |
Worcester against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Worcester is #83 of 520 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Massachusetts, Yakima and Rochester pay just above Worcester and Portland-South Portland and Visalia just below. All four are within $540 a year of the median in Worcester. Of the three markets with about as many administrative assistants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Worcester | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | +0.8% | 1,000 | pay | |
| Yakima, WA | +0.2% | 1,020 | pay | |
| Worcester, MA | this area | 3,550 | ||
| Portland-South Portland, ME | -0.9% | 2,930 | pay | |
| Visalia, CA | -1.0% | 1,390 | pay | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | -8.7% | 3,620 | jobs | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | -10.4% | 3,480 | jobs | |
| Tucson, AZ | -14.1% | 3,630 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Worcester, MA?
About $67,677 a year at the median, or $5,640 a month: $52,450 in pay plus about $15,227 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for administrative assistants in Worcester?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $52,450 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,430, the 90th $69,770, and the middle half earned $46,760 to $61,480.
Is Worcester cheaper than the rest of Massachusetts for administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $52,450 against $57,940 statewide. The next area up in Massachusetts is Barnstable Town at $55,040, the next down Springfield at $51,460.
How many administrative assistants work in Worcester?
BLS counts about 3,550 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the Massachusetts total of 37,750. Only Boston-Cambridge has more in Massachusetts.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an HR assistant in Worcester?
Yes: $2,600 a year more at the median. The medians are $52,450 and $49,850.
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.