Medical Administrative Assistant salary in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
The Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for medical administrative assistants: the median of $41,410 a year1 is 7.8% below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $44,930, and 9.8% below the US median of $45,930. Among US areas it comes in at #288 of 516. BLS counts about 460 people in this job here, 2% of the Pennsylvania total.
BLS occupation 43-6013, area Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | $35,110 | $41,410 | $49,110 | |
| Pennsylvania | $36,280 | $44,930 | $58,170 | |
| United States | $35,930 | $45,930 | $60,530 |
The middle half of medical administrative assistants in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area earns $37,120–$46,110. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $49,110, only 1.4 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 only $8,990 wide, against $9,510 across Pennsylvania and $12,010 nationally: employers in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
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 | $35,110 | $2,926 | $16.88 | $45,303 |
| 25th percentile | $37,120 | $3,093 | $17.85 | $47,897 |
| Median | $41,410 | $3,451 | $19.91 | $53,432 |
| 75th percentile | $46,110 | $3,842 | $22.17 | $59,497 |
| 90th percentile | $49,110 | $4,092 | $23.61 | $63,368 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $4,290 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $4,700, or about $6,065 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 the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, and the Pennsylvania statewide median of $44,930 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
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 $12,022 to the $41,410 median and brings it to $53,432 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 the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, this one ranks #13 by median pay, between bookkeepers ($43,180) and e-commerce order specialists ($40,700). Project Coordinator is the highest at $96,830.
| Role | Median | vs medical administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | +7.2% | 1,890 | |
| Bookkeeper | +4.3% | 1,190 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | this role | 460 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -1.7% | 50 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -7.3% | 1,500 |
Measured against the US median, medical administrative assistants rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area (-9.8%), between data entry specialists (-8.2%) and e-commerce order specialists (-11.8%). The typical role here is at -14.3%, so, measured against the US, medical administrative assistants cost more in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Medical administrative assistants hold 4.7% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 4.8% across Pennsylvania and 6.1% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
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 12 areas in Pennsylvania with more medical administrative assistants than the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, 2 pay less: the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area ($39,740) and the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area ($38,230).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gettysburg, PA | +5.1% | 110 | |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | +4.7% | 880 | |
| Erie, PA | +1.9% | 570 | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 460 | |
| Johnstown, PA | -2.7% | 210 | |
| Altoona, PA | -3.6% | 280 | |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -4.0% | 650 |
the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #324 of 514 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Pennsylvania, Flint and Rocky Mount pay just above the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area and Logan and Grand Rapids-Wyoming just below. All four are within $230 a year of the median in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many medical administrative assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | +5.9% | 450 | jobs | |
| San Angelo, TX | +2.8% | 460 | jobs | |
| Rocky Mount, NC | +0.2% | 420 | pay | |
| Flint, MI | +0.0% | 1,230 | pay | |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | this area | 460 | ||
| Logan, UT-ID | -0.4% | 190 | pay | |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | -0.6% | 3,640 | pay | |
| Terre Haute, IN | -7.5% | 460 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a medical administrative assistant in Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro)?
About $53,432 a year at the median, or $4,453 a month: $41,410 in pay plus about $12,022 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for medical administrative assistants in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
The median was $41,410 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,110, the 90th $49,110, and the middle half earned $37,120 to $46,110.
Is the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Pennsylvania for medical administrative assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $41,410 against $44,930 statewide. The next area up in Pennsylvania is Erie at $42,210, the next down Johnstown at $40,290.
How many medical administrative assistants work in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 460 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Pennsylvania total of 27,600. 12 areas in Pennsylvania have more; the closest in size is the Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area, with about 510.
Does a medical administrative assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in the Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Yes: $710 a year more at the median. The medians are $41,410 and $40,700.
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 2026-11-12.