HR Assistant salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Of the 15 areas in Pennsylvania with BLS pay data for this job, Pittsburgh has the lowest median: $45,900 a year1. That is 5.9% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $48,800, and 9.3% below the US median of $50,610. Nationally it ranks #274 of 384 areas. About 480 HR assistants work here, 18% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-4161, area Pittsburgh, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Pittsburgh against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | $37,830 | $45,900 | $63,000 | |
| Pennsylvania | $37,780 | $48,800 | $63,810 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
HR assistants at the 90th percentile earn $63,000, 1.7 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 1.8. The middle half of HR assistants in Pittsburgh earns $43,150–$54,600. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $11,450 wide, against $13,820 across Pennsylvania and $15,770 nationally: employers in Pittsburgh 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 | $37,830 | $3,152 | $18.19 | $48,813 |
| 25th percentile | $43,150 | $3,596 | $20.75 | $55,677 |
| Median | $45,900 | $3,825 | $22.07 | $59,226 |
| 75th percentile | $54,600 | $4,550 | $26.25 | $70,452 |
| 90th percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30.29 | $81,290 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $8,700 over the median, the 25th only $2,750 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $11,226 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 Pittsburgh, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $48,800 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Pittsburgh
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 $13,326 to the $45,900 median and brings it to $59,226 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 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 Pittsburgh
Of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between e-commerce order specialists ($46,580) and administrative assistants ($45,550). Project Coordinator is the highest at $99,320.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +2.9% | 9,250 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +1.5% | 450 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 480 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -0.8% | 12,160 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -3.6% | 6,020 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in Pittsburgh (-9.3%), between office managers (-9.0%) and sales development representatives (-9.5%). The typical role here is at -6.7%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. HR assistants hold 0.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Pittsburgh, 0.5% across Pennsylvania and 0.6% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 15 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $45,900 in Pittsburgh to $51,880 in Allentown-Bethlehem, a gap of $5,980 a year. The one area in Pennsylvania with more HR assistants, Philadelphia-Camden, PA-NJ ($50,820), also pays more.
| Area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +5.3% | 60 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +4.0% | 50 | |
| Lancaster, PA | +3.8% | 110 | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +3.4% | 80 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +1.9% | 60 | |
| Erie, PA | +1.4% | 60 | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 480 |
Pittsburgh against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Pittsburgh is #41 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 Pennsylvania, Saginaw and El Centro pay just above Pittsburgh and Wichita Falls and Roanoke just below. All four are within $110 a year of the median in Pittsburgh. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Pittsburgh | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | +14.9% | 470 | jobs | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | +4.5% | 490 | jobs | |
| El Centro, CA | +0.2% | 40 | pay | |
| Saginaw, MI | +0.1% | 40 | pay | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | this area | 480 | ||
| Wichita Falls, TX | -0.0% | 40 | pay | |
| Roanoke, VA | -0.1% | 90 | pay | |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | -1.0% | 470 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Pittsburgh, PA?
About $59,226 a year at the median, or $4,935 a month: $45,900 in pay plus about $13,326 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for HR assistants in Pittsburgh?
The median was $45,900 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,830, the 90th $63,000, and the middle half earned $43,150 to $54,600.
Is Pittsburgh the cheapest area in Pennsylvania for HR assistants?
Yes. Its median of $45,900 is the lowest of 15 areas in Pennsylvania. Erie is next at $46,560.
How many HR assistants work in Pittsburgh?
BLS counts about 480 in the May 2025 survey. That is 18% of the Pennsylvania total of 2,700. Only Philadelphia-Camden has more in Pennsylvania.
Does an HR assistant cost more than an administrative assistant in Pittsburgh?
Yes: $350 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,900 and $45,550.
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.