Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary
Average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary
$42,400
Understanding Administrative Assistant/Payroll Assistant Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Administrative Assistant or Payroll Assistant stands at $42,400 per year. Factors influencing this salary include geographic location, experience level, and the specific industry in which one works. For instance, those in metropolitan areas often see higher compensation due to increased demand.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level administrative roles typically start around $30,000, while experienced professionals can earn up to $55,000 or more. Job seekers should consider gaining additional skills or certifications to enhance their marketability and salary potential.
Regional Salary Variations
Salary figures vary significantly by state. For example, administrative professionals in states like California and New York generally earn higher wages compared to their counterparts in Texas or Florida. Researching local job markets can provide insights into where to find the best opportunities.
Potential for Advancement
With experience and further education, many administrative assistants can transition into roles like Office Manager or Human Resources Coordinator, which offer higher salaries and responsibilities. Continuous professional development is key to enhancing career trajectory.
Let Zippia find your next administrative assistant/payroll assistant job
Let Zippia find your next administrative assistant/payroll assistant job
Where can an Administrative Assistant/Payroll Assistant earn more?
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant salaries by experience level
Average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary by state
The average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary in California, Hawaii, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary states are Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for administrative assistants/payroll assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $55,030 | $26.46 |
| 2 | Alaska | $48,984 | $23.55 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $51,687 | $24.85 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $53,032 | $25.50 |
| 5 | Washington | $48,792 | $23.46 |
| 6 | Oregon | $46,732 | $22.47 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $45,435 | $21.84 |
| 8 | New York | $46,286 | $22.25 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $44,254 | $21.28 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| 11 | Nevada | $46,103 | $22.16 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $45,918 | $22.08 |
| 13 | Arizona | $42,315 | $20.34 |
| 14 | Utah | $43,031 | $20.69 |
| 15 | Illinois | $46,065 | $22.15 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $44,592 | $21.44 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $39,962 | $19.21 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $45,764 | $22.00 |
| 19 | Colorado | $41,346 | $19.88 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $40,114 | $19.29 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $40,390 | $19.42 |
| 22 | Delaware | $43,277 | $20.81 |
| 23 | Texas | $39,109 | $18.80 |
| 24 | Kansas | $40,438 | $19.44 |
| 25 | Maryland | $42,047 | $20.21 |
| 26 | Vermont | $40,631 | $19.53 |
| 27 | Idaho | $38,316 | $18.42 |
| 28 | Michigan | $38,976 | $18.74 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $39,705 | $19.09 |
| 30 | Florida | $37,438 | $18.00 |
| 31 | Virginia | $39,378 | $18.93 |
| 32 | Ohio | $37,117 | $17.84 |
| 33 | Montana | $36,091 | $17.35 |
| 34 | Maine | $38,094 | $18.31 |
| 35 | Iowa | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| 36 | Missouri | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| 37 | Alabama | $38,286 | $18.41 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $37,213 | $17.89 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $37,281 | $17.92 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | $38,377 | $18.45 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $36,046 | $17.33 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $35,476 | $17.06 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $35,423 | $17.03 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $33,464 | $16.09 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $35,252 | $16.95 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $32,808 | $15.77 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $34,228 | $16.46 |
| 49 | Indiana | $32,686 | $15.71 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $34,143 | $16.41 |
| 51 | Georgia | $31,807 | $15.29 |
Highest paying cities for administrative assistants/payroll assistants
The highest-paying cities for administrative assistants/payroll assistants are Benicia, CA, Portland, OR, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benicia, CA | $56,786 | $27.30 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $46,584 | $22.40 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $46,572 | $22.39 |
| 4 | North Las Vegas, NV | $45,917 | $22.08 |
| 5 | Normal, IL | $45,558 | $21.90 |
| 6 | Rockville, MD | $41,687 | $20.04 |
| 7 | Saint Paul, MN | $39,726 | $19.10 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $39,170 | $18.83 |
| 9 | Cleveland, OH | $38,298 | $18.41 |
| 10 | Bessemer, AL | $38,220 | $18.38 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $34,259 | $16.47 |
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary details
An administrative assistant/payroll assistant's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $57,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an administrative assistant/payroll assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| Average | $42,400 | $3,533 | $20 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying administrative assistant/payroll assistant jobs
The highest paying types of administrative assistants/payroll assistants are administrative staff, administrative assistant/technical, and accounts payable/administrative assistant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Staff | $77,101 | $6,425 | $37.07 | 119,030 |
Top companies hiring administrative assistants/payroll assistants now:
Which companies pay administrative assistants/payroll assistants the most?
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant salaries at Grunley Construction and H&R; Block are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary at companies like MV Transportation and ICONMA are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grunley Construction | $47,717 | $22.94 |
| 2 | H&R Block | $42,838 | $20.60 |
| 3 | MV Transportation | $42,212 | $20.29 |
| 4 | ICONMA | $41,923 | $20.16 |
| 5 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $40,373 | $19.41 |
| 6 | Robert Half | $40,001 | $19.23 |
| 7 | Heartland Payment Systems | $38,447 | $18.48 |
| 8 | Meador Staffing | $34,915 | $16.79 |
| 9 | Staffmark | $33,687 | $16.20 |
| 10 | McLean County U5 | $33,272 | $16.00 |
| 11 | Bolthouse Farms | $31,121 | $14.96 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Administrative Assistant/Payroll Assistant salary by industry
The average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary in the construction industry is $46,872, the highest of any industry.
- The average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary in the finance industry is $44,179.
- Administrative assistants/payroll assistants in the retail industry earn an average salary of $34,849, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for administrative assistants/payroll assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | $46,872 | $22.53 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $44,179 | $21.24 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $41,429 | $19.92 |
| 4 | Transportation | $41,219 | $19.82 |
| 5 | Finance | $41,060 | $19.74 |
| 6 | Professional | $39,577 | $19.03 |
| 7 | Health Care | $38,811 | $18.66 |
| 8 | Retail | $34,849 | $16.75 |
High paying administrative assistant/payroll assistant jobs
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary trends
The average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary has risen by $7,618 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average administrative assistant/payroll assistant earned $34,782 annually, but today, they earn $42,400 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for administrative assistants/payroll assistants over the last decade.
Compare administrative assistant/payroll assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary over time
Compare administrative assistant/payroll assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,400 | $20.38 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $41,100 | $19.78 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $40,000 | $19.22 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $38,800 | $18.67 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $38,000 | $18.27 | +2.6% |
Recently added administrative assistant/payroll assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.R. Hornung, CPA, PC | Administrative Assistant & Project Management-Payroll & Bookkeeping Focus | Florence, OR | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Apex Service Partners | Payroll Administrative Assistant | Orlando, FL | 06/12/2025 | $37,566 |
| Pepsico | Payroll Administrative Assistant | Detroit, MI | 05/19/2025 | $38,700 |
| Mason City School District | Anticipated Benefits/Payroll Administrative Assistant | Mason, OH | 05/12/2025 | $47,521 |
| Carylon Corporation | Administrative-Payroll Assistant | West Palm Beach, FL | 03/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Join The IBP Team | Payroll Administrative Assistant | Tacoma, WA | 03/26/2025 | $37,566 |
| Installed Building Products | Payroll Administrative Assistant | Tacoma, WA | 03/22/2025 | $37,566 |
| National Water Main Cleaning Company | Administrative-Payroll Assistant | West Palm Beach, FL | 03/22/2025 | $41,740 |
| Pepsico, Inc. | Payroll Administrative Assistant | Burlington, VT | 02/17/2025 | $47,000 |
| General Pacific, Inc. | Administrative Assistant-Payroll and Benefits | Fairview, OR | 02/17/2025 | $43,827 |
Administrative assistant/payroll assistant salary FAQs
Search for administrative assistant/payroll assistant jobs