HR Assistant salary in Cleveland, OH
For this job Cleveland sits right at the Ohio figure, with a median of $48,740 a year1. That is about level with the Ohio statewide median of $48,310, and 3.7% below the US median of $50,610. Nationally it ranks #177 of 384 areas. With about 650 HR assistants, 23% of the Ohio total, no area in Ohio employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4161, area Cleveland, OH. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Cleveland against Ohio and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | $35,410 | $48,740 | $64,490 | |
| Ohio | $35,790 | $48,310 | $65,100 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
HR assistants at the 90th percentile earn $64,490, 1.8 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.8. The middle half of HR assistants in Cleveland earns $44,680–$59,180. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $14,500 wide, against $15,670 across Ohio and $15,770 nationally: employers in Cleveland 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 | $35,410 | $2,951 | $17.02 | $45,690 |
| 25th percentile | $44,680 | $3,723 | $21.48 | $57,652 |
| Median | $48,740 | $4,062 | $23.43 | $62,890 |
| 75th percentile | $59,180 | $4,932 | $28.45 | $76,361 |
| 90th percentile | $64,490 | $5,374 | $31.00 | $83,213 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $10,440 over the median, the 25th only $4,060 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $13,471 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 $50,610 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Cleveland, and the Ohio statewide median of $48,310 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Cleveland
At the $48,740 median, a local hire costs about $62,890 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $14,150 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 Cleveland
Of the 17 roles we track in Cleveland, this one ranks #11 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($48,860) and e-commerce order specialists ($47,350). Project Coordinator is the highest at $95,000.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Specialist | +21.3% | 1,370 | |
| Bookkeeper | +0.2% | 8,660 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 650 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -2.9% | 780 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -5.4% | 10,450 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #9 of the 17 roles we track in Cleveland (-3.7%), between bookkeepers (-3.6%) and accountants (-4.4%). The typical role here is at -3.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. HR assistants hold 0.6% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Cleveland, 0.5% across Ohio and 0.6% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Ohio
Across the 12 areas of Ohio with data for this job, the median runs from $42,340 in Youngstown-Warren to $52,040 in Dayton-Kettering, a gap of $9,700 a year. No other area in Ohio has as many HR assistants, and 7 of the other 11 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Cleveland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY | +4.2% | 610 | |
| Columbus, OH | +4.0% | 530 | |
| Akron, OH | +1.1% | 160 | |
| Cleveland, OH | this area | 650 | |
| West Northwestern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -0.5% | 100 | |
| Southern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -2.4% | 70 | |
| Eastern Ohio (Nonmetro) | -3.2% | 60 |
Cleveland against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Cleveland is #26 of 382 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Ohio, Atlanta-Sandy Springs and La Crosse-Onalaska pay just above Cleveland and Eau Claire and Eugene-Springfield just below. All four are within $50 a year of the median in Cleveland. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Cleveland | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | +20.3% | 640 | jobs | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | +18.0% | 660 | jobs | |
| Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA | +13.2% | 640 | jobs | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +0.1% | 40 | pay | |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | +0.1% | 1,360 | pay | |
| Cleveland, OH | this area | 650 | ||
| Eau Claire, WI | -0.0% | 40 | pay | |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | -0.1% | 60 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Cleveland, OH?
About $62,890 a year at the median, or $5,241 a month: $48,740 in pay plus about $14,150 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do HR assistants earn in Cleveland?
The median was $48,740 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,410, the 90th $64,490, and the middle half earned $44,680 to $59,180.
Is Cleveland cheaper than the rest of Ohio for HR assistants?
About the same: a median of $48,740 against $48,310 statewide. The next area up in Ohio is Akron at $49,270, the next down the West Northwestern Ohio nonmetro area at $48,520.
How many HR assistants work in Cleveland?
BLS counts about 650 in the May 2025 survey. That is 23% of the Ohio total of 2,770. No other area in Ohio has as many.
Does an HR assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Cleveland?
Yes: $1,390 a year more at the median. The medians are $48,740 and $47,350.
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.