Medical Administrative Assistant salary in Altoona, PA
Altoona is a lower-cost market for medical administrative assistants: the median of $39,910 a year1 is 11.2% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $44,930, and 13.1% below the US median of $45,930. Nationally it ranks #319 of 516 areas. The market is small, about 280 people, 1% of the Pennsylvania total, so expect few local candidates at a time.
BLS occupation 43-6013, area Altoona, PA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Altoona against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | $32,580 | $39,910 | $47,460 | |
| Pennsylvania | $36,280 | $44,930 | $58,170 | |
| United States | $35,930 | $45,930 | $60,530 |
The middle half of medical administrative assistants in Altoona earns $35,770–$45,970. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $47,460, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.7 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $10,200 wide, between the figure for Pennsylvania ($9,510) and the US figure ($12,010).
What to budget for a medical administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,580 | $2,715 | $15.66 | $42,039 |
| 25th percentile | $35,770 | $2,981 | $17.20 | $46,155 |
| Median | $39,910 | $3,326 | $19.19 | $51,497 |
| 75th percentile | $45,970 | $3,831 | $22.10 | $59,316 |
| 90th percentile | $47,460 | $3,955 | $22.82 | $61,239 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,140 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,060, or about $7,819 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 $45,930 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Altoona, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $44,930 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in Altoona
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 $11,587 to the $39,910 median and brings it to $51,497 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 medical administrative 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 Altoona
Of the 15 roles we track in Altoona, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between data entry specialists ($41,600) and administrative assistants ($39,010). Project Coordinator is the highest at $87,660.
| Role | Median | vs medical administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +6.9% | 470 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +4.2% | 30 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | this role | 280 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -2.3% | 640 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -5.9% | 800 |
Measured against the US median, medical administrative assistants rank #3 of the 15 roles we track in Altoona (-13.1%), between payroll specialists (-12.8%) and office managers (-13.4%). The typical role here is at -15.8%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Medical administrative assistants hold 5.9% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Altoona, 4.9% across Pennsylvania and 6.1% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
Across the 20 areas of Pennsylvania with data for this job, the median runs from $38,230 in the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area to $47,120 in Philadelphia-Camden, a gap of $8,890 a year. Of the 13 areas in Pennsylvania with more medical administrative assistants than Altoona, 2 pay less: the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area ($39,740) and the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area ($38,230).
| Area | Median | vs Altoona | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +8.7% | 880 | |
| Erie, PA | +5.8% | 570 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +3.8% | 460 | |
| Johnstown, PA | +1.0% | 210 | |
| Altoona, PA | this area | 280 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -0.4% | 650 | |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -4.2% | 510 |
Altoona against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Altoona is #410 of 514 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Pennsylvania, Memphis and Greenville pay just above Altoona and Blacksburg-Christiansburg and Jackson just below. All four are within $170 a year of the median in Altoona. Of the three markets with about as many medical administrative assistants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Altoona | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | +0.8% | 280 | jobs | |
| Greenville, NC | +0.2% | 1,640 | pay | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | +0.1% | 7,180 | pay | |
| Altoona, PA | this area | 280 | ||
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA | -0.2% | 310 | pay | |
| Jackson, MI | -0.4% | 300 | pay | |
| Charleston, WV | -3.4% | 280 | jobs | |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | -10.2% | 280 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a medical administrative assistant in Altoona, PA?
About $51,497 a year at the median, or $4,291 a month: $39,910 in pay plus about $11,587 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for medical administrative assistants in Altoona?
The median was $39,910 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,580, the 90th $47,460, and the middle half earned $35,770 to $45,970.
Is Altoona cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for medical administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $39,910 against $44,930 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Johnstown at $40,290, the next down the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area at $39,740.
How many medical administrative assistants work in Altoona?
BLS counts about 280 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Pennsylvania total of 27,600. 13 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, with about 460.
Does a medical administrative assistant cost more than an administrative assistant in Altoona?
Yes: $900 a year more at the median. The medians are $39,910 and $39,010.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6013: 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 2026-11-13.