HR Assistant salary in Albany-Schenectady, NY
For this job Albany-Schenectady sits right at the New York figure, with a median of $52,690 a year1. That is about level with the New York statewide median of $52,920, and 4.1% above the US median of $50,610. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#61 of 384). BLS counts about 780 people in this job here, 9% of the New York total.
BLS occupation 43-4161, area Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Albany-Schenectady against New York and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | $40,310 | $52,690 | $66,620 | |
| New York | $39,000 | $52,920 | $73,620 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
HR assistants at the 90th percentile earn $66,620, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.8. The middle half of HR assistants in Albany-Schenectady earns $46,290–$60,440. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,150 wide, against $17,060 across New York and $15,770 nationally: employers in Albany-Schenectady pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an HR assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,310 | $3,359 | $19.38 | $52,013 |
| 25th percentile | $46,290 | $3,858 | $22.25 | $59,729 |
| Median | $52,690 | $4,391 | $25.33 | $67,987 |
| 75th percentile | $60,440 | $5,037 | $29.06 | $77,987 |
| 90th percentile | $66,620 | $5,552 | $32.03 | $85,961 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $6,400 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $7,750, or about $10,000 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 $50,610 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Albany-Schenectady, and the New York statewide median of $52,920 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Albany-Schenectady
At the $52,690 median, a local hire costs about $67,987 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $15,297 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 HR 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 Albany-Schenectady
Of the 17 roles we track in Albany-Schenectady, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($53,540) and administrative assistants ($49,330). Project Coordinator is the highest at $109,850.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +7.0% | 570 | |
| Bookkeeper | +1.6% | 4,170 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 780 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -6.4% | 7,690 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -9.6% | 190 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #5 of the 17 roles we track in Albany-Schenectady (+4.1%), between virtual receptionists (+4.7%) and administrative assistants (+3.8%). The typical role here is at +1.3%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. HR assistants hold 1.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Albany-Schenectady, 0.8% across New York and 0.6% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in New York
Across the 16 areas of New York with data for this job, the median runs from $46,120 in Kingston to $56,850 in New York-Newark, a gap of $10,730 a year. The one area in New York with more HR assistants, New York-Newark, NY-NJ ($56,850), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Albany-Schenectady | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ | +7.9% | 7,640 | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | this area | 780 | |
| Ithaca, NY | -1.0% | 70 | |
| Binghamton, NY | -1.6% | 90 | |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | -3.3% | 40 | |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie, NY | -3.8% | 250 | |
| Syracuse, NY | -4.7% | 280 |
Albany-Schenectady against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Albany-Schenectady is #23 of 382 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside New York, Richmond and Vineland pay just above Albany-Schenectady and Merced and Visalia just below. All four are within $100 a year of the median in Albany-Schenectady. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Albany-Schenectady | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vineland, NJ | +0.2% | 60 | pay | |
| Richmond, VA | +0.1% | 470 | pay | |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | this area | 780 | ||
| Merced, CA | -0.2% | 60 | pay | |
| Visalia, CA | -0.2% | 90 | pay | |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | -5.6% | 780 | jobs | |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | -7.2% | 830 | jobs | |
| Detroit-Warren, MI | -8.3% | 870 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Albany-Schenectady, NY?
About $67,987 a year at the median, or $5,666 a month: $52,690 in pay plus about $15,297 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do HR assistants earn in Albany-Schenectady?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $52,690 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $40,310, the 90th $66,620, and the middle half earned $46,290 to $60,440.
Is Albany-Schenectady cheaper than the rest of New York for HR assistants?
About the same: a median of $52,690 against $52,920 statewide. The next area up in New York is New York-Newark at $56,850, the next down Ithaca at $52,140.
How many HR assistants work in Albany-Schenectady?
BLS counts about 780 in the May 2025 survey. That is 9% of the New York total of 8,800. Only New York-Newark has more in New York.
Does an HR assistant cost more than an administrative assistant in Albany-Schenectady?
Yes: $3,360 a year more at the median. The medians are $52,690 and $49,330.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: 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.