HR Assistant salary in Richmond, VA
Richmond is a higher-paying market for HR assistants: the median of $52,730 a year1 is 1.5% above the Virginia statewide median of $51,950, and 4.2% above the US median of $50,610. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#60 of 384). About 470 HR assistants work here, 22% of the Virginia total.
BLS occupation 43-4161, area Richmond, VA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Richmond against Virginia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $38,680 | $52,730 | $65,510 | |
| Virginia | $38,690 | $51,950 | $69,640 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Richmond earns $46,210–$62,880. The top tenth earns $65,510 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.8 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $16,670 wide, wider than in Virginia as a whole ($15,330) and the US ($15,770), so what a HR assistant earns in Richmond depends more on the employer.
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 | $38,680 | $3,223 | $18.60 | $49,910 |
| 25th percentile | $46,210 | $3,851 | $22.22 | $59,626 |
| Median | $52,730 | $4,394 | $25.35 | $68,039 |
| 75th percentile | $62,880 | $5,240 | $30.23 | $81,135 |
| 90th percentile | $65,510 | $5,459 | $31.50 | $84,529 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $10,150 over the median, the 25th only $6,520 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $13,097 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 25th percentile and the median in Richmond, and the Virginia statewide median of $51,950 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Richmond
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 $15,309 to the $52,730 median and brings it to $68,039 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 Richmond
Of the 17 roles we track in Richmond, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between payroll specialists ($60,010) and bookkeepers ($51,400). Project Coordinator is the highest at $102,170.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +16.7% | 5,710 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +13.8% | 630 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 470 | |
| Bookkeeper | -2.5% | 4,890 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -9.3% | 4,940 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in Richmond (+4.2%), between recruiters (+4.5%) and marketing specialists (+3.7%). The typical role here is at +0.1%, so, measured against the US, HR assistants cost more in Richmond than the area's general pay level would suggest. HR assistants hold 0.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Richmond, 0.5% across Virginia and 0.6% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Virginia
Across the 10 areas of Virginia with data for this job, the median runs from $45,870 in Roanoke to $57,160 in Winchester, a gap of $11,290 a year. The one area in Virginia with more HR assistants, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC ($47,990), pays less: a bigger pool at a lower median.
| Area | Median | vs Richmond | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA-WV | +8.4% | 50 | |
| Richmond, VA | this area | 470 | |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -1.5% | 50 | |
| Harrisonburg, VA | -5.8% | 50 | |
| Charlottesville, VA | -6.5% | 80 | |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC | -9.0% | 500 | |
| Lynchburg, VA | -9.5% | 40 |
Richmond against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Richmond is #43 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 Virginia, Vineland and Bellingham pay just above Richmond and Albany-Schenectady and Merced just below. All four are within $180 a year of the median in Richmond. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Richmond | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WA | +0.3% | 40 | pay | |
| Vineland, NJ | +0.1% | 60 | pay | |
| Richmond, VA | this area | 470 | ||
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | -0.1% | 780 | pay | |
| Merced, CA | -0.3% | 60 | pay | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | -9.0% | 490 | jobs | |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -13.0% | 480 | jobs | |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | -13.8% | 470 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Richmond, VA?
About $68,039 a year at the median, or $5,670 a month: $52,730 in pay plus about $15,309 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for HR assistants in Richmond?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $52,730 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $38,680, the 90th $65,510, and the middle half earned $46,210 to $62,880.
Is Richmond cheaper than the rest of Virginia for HR assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $52,730 against $51,950 statewide. The next area up in Virginia is Winchester at $57,160, the next down Blacksburg-Christiansburg at $51,950.
How many HR assistants work in Richmond?
BLS counts about 470 in the May 2025 survey. That is 22% of the Virginia total of 2,160. Only Virginia Beach-Chesapeake has more in Virginia.
Does an HR assistant cost more than a bookkeeper in Richmond?
Yes: $1,330 a year more at the median. The medians are $52,730 and $51,400.
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.