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The average Departmental Assistant salary in the United States is $39,690 per year. This figure can vary considerably based on factors such as location, industry, and experience level. For instance, Departmental Assistants in higher-paying industries often enjoy salaries well above the national average.
States such as California, New York, and Texas typically offer higher salaries for Departmental Assistants due to the cost of living and demand for administrative support. For example, in California, the average salary can reach approximately $45,000 annually.
Entry-level positions may start around $35,000, while those with several years of experience can command salaries exceeding $50,000. Advancement opportunities, such as transitioning to managerial roles, can further enhance earning potential.
For individuals considering a career as a Departmental Assistant, understanding these salary dynamics is crucial. Researching average salaries by state and industry will help you make informed decisions and identify the best opportunities in your job search.
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The highest-paying states for departmental assistants are Hawaii, California, and New York. The lowest average departmental assistant salary states are Arkansas, Iowa, and South Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $47,683 | $22.92 |
| 2 | Colorado | $46,953 | $22.57 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $45,272 | $21.77 |
| 4 | California | $50,697 | $24.37 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $46,353 | $22.29 |
| 6 | Washington | $43,887 | $21.10 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $46,913 | $22.55 |
| 8 | Hawaii | $51,286 | $24.66 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $40,505 | $19.47 |
| 10 | Michigan | $43,297 | $20.82 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $44,551 | $21.42 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $39,290 | $18.89 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $41,922 | $20.15 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $44,415 | $21.35 |
| 15 | Utah | $38,781 | $18.64 |
| 16 | Maryland | $43,085 | $20.71 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $40,934 | $19.68 |
| 18 | Oregon | $40,040 | $19.25 |
| 19 | Delaware | $42,338 | $20.35 |
| 20 | Virginia | $40,283 | $19.37 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $38,441 | $18.48 |
| 22 | Arizona | $38,822 | $18.66 |
| 23 | Illinois | $40,503 | $19.47 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $38,324 | $18.43 |
| 25 | Alaska | $37,739 | $18.14 |
| 26 | Vermont | $40,525 | $19.48 |
| 27 | Florida | $38,407 | $18.46 |
| 28 | Alabama | $38,564 | $18.54 |
| 29 | Maine | $38,119 | $18.33 |
| 30 | Ohio | $34,543 | $16.61 |
| 31 | New Hampshire | $38,193 | $18.36 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $36,259 | $17.43 |
| 33 | Nevada | $36,326 | $17.46 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $35,982 | $17.30 |
| 35 | Kansas | $37,475 | $18.02 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $36,161 | $17.39 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $35,095 | $16.87 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $36,714 | $17.65 |
| 39 | Idaho | $33,495 | $16.10 |
| 40 | Texas | $34,761 | $16.71 |
| 41 | Missouri | $36,491 | $17.54 |
| 42 | Montana | $31,639 | $15.21 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $34,877 | $16.77 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $33,986 | $16.34 |
| 45 | Iowa | $32,294 | $15.53 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $33,762 | $16.23 |
| 47 | Georgia | $32,948 | $15.84 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $32,511 | $15.63 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $32,197 | $15.48 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $32,003 | $15.39 |
| 51 | Indiana | $31,413 | $15.10 |
The highest-paying cities for departmental assistants are Santa Barbara, CA, New York, NY, and Amherst, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Barbara, CA | $51,323 | $24.67 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $47,821 | $22.99 |
| 3 | Amherst, MA | $45,609 | $21.93 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $36,301 | $17.45 |
A departmental assistant's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $55,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 75th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| Average | $39,690 | $3,308 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Top companies hiring departmental assistants now:
Departmental assistant salaries at University of Massachusetts Boston and Mount Sinai Health System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average departmental assistant salary at companies like UC Santa Barbara and UMass Lowell are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts Boston | $53,351 | $25.65 |
| 2 | Mount Sinai Health System | $51,196 | $24.61 |
| 3 | UC Santa Barbara | $49,982 | $24.03 |
| 4 | UMass Lowell | $41,868 | $20.13 |
| 5 | Cogent Communications | $39,656 | $19.07 |
| 6 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | $38,221 | $18.38 |
| 7 | Nashville State Community College | $36,372 | $17.49 |
| 8 | UMASS_STORE | $34,731 | $16.70 |
| 9 | Moraine Valley Community College | $27,337 | $13.14 |
The average departmental assistant salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $44,148 | $21.23 |
| 2 | Media | $40,736 | $19.58 |
| 3 | Technology | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| 4 | Education | $37,487 | $18.02 |
| 5 | Health Care | $35,463 | $17.05 |
| 6 | Government | $35,171 | $16.91 |
The average departmental assistant salary has risen by $7,131 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average departmental assistant earned $32,559 annually, but today, they earn $39,690 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for departmental assistants over the last decade.
Compare departmental assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare departmental assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,700 | $19.08 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $38,500 | $18.51 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $37,400 | $17.99 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $36,400 | $17.48 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $35,600 | $17.10 | +2.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umass Amherst | Departmental Assistant-Research Coordinator | Amherst, NY | 06/15/2025 | $52,175 |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | Departmental Assistant-Research Coordinator | Amherst, MA | 06/14/2025 | $52,175 |
| University of Massachusetts | Departmental Assistant | Amherst, MA | 06/12/2025 | $37,566 |
| Umass Amherst | Departmental Assistant | Newton, MA | 06/12/2025 | $37,566 |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | Departmental Assistant (Bakery Assistant) | Amherst, MA | 05/23/2025 | $35,479 |
| Mount Sinai Medical Center | Departmental Assistant-Cardiovascular Institute-STL-Mount Sinai Morningside-Days-9AM | New York, NY | 05/22/2025 | $54,888 |
| Details | Departmental Assistant (Nutrition Data Specialist) | Amherst, NY | 05/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| University of Massachusetts | Departmental Assistant (Nutrition Data Specialist) | Amherst, MA | 05/21/2025 | $41,740 |
| Tennessee Board of Regents | Temporary-Departmental Assistant (Pool) | Gallatin, TN | 05/10/2025 | $29,218 |
| Umass Amherst | Departmental Assistant-Civic Initiative Mentor | Amherst, NY | 05/05/2025 | $31,305 |
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