HR Assistant salary and cost of hiring in Pennsylvania
The median HR assistant in Pennsylvania earned $48,800 a year in May 2025[1], 3.6% below the US median of $50,610. That puts Pennsylvania at #27 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-4161. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-16.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $37,780 | $48,800 | $63,810 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Pennsylvania earns $43,710–$57,530; the top tenth earns $63,810 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 Pennsylvania median that makes about $69,714 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 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Pennsylvania
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $59,420 | 220 | |
| Reading, PA | $57,640 | 80 | |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,030 | 1,630 | |
| Chambersburg, PA | $53,950 | 40 | |
| York-Hanover, PA | $57,400 | 100 | |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $58,950 | 120 | |
| State College, PA | $54,760 | 40 | |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $56,410 | 250 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $56,880 | 60 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $56,720 | 50 | |
| Lancaster, PA | $57,770 | 110 | |
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $56,400 | 80 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $51,990 | 60 | |
| Erie, PA | $55,330 | 60 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $54,600 | 480 |
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ pays the most ($51,880) and Pittsburgh, PA the least ($45,900): $5,980 a year apart for the same job.
What an HR assistant does
An HR assistant runs the admin side of people work: job posts, interview scheduling, onboarding paperwork, employee records and HR questions.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | +1.7% | |
| Hawaii | +0.9% | |
| Pennsylvania | +0.0% | |
| Wisconsin | -0.2% | |
| Iowa | -0.6% |
Questions
How much does an HR assistant earn in Pennsylvania?
The median was $48,800 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $43,710 to $57,530.
What does it cost to employ an HR assistant in Pennsylvania?
About $69,714 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Pennsylvania do HR assistants earn the most?
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ, with a median of $51,880 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434161.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. Data checked 2026-10-16.