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The average salary for a Program and Administrative Assistant stands at $35,631 per year, translating to about $17 per hour. This position is essential for maintaining smooth operations in various sectors, including healthcare, education, and corporate environments. Salaries for this role can differ based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry.
For instance, those with more experience generally command higher salaries. Entry-level positions may start lower, around $30,000 annually, while experienced assistants can earn upwards of $45,000. Additionally, certain states and cities offer higher compensation due to higher living costs and demand for administrative support.
States like California and New York frequently feature among the highest-paying locations, providing opportunities for competitive salaries. Cities such as San Francisco and New York City often present the best compensation packages for Program and Administrative Assistants.
By understanding these salary trends and where the best opportunities lie, aspiring Program and Administrative Assistants can make informed career decisions, ensuring they pursue the most rewarding paths in their professional journey.
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The highest-paying states for program and administrative assistants are Connecticut, Washington, and Alaska. The lowest average program and administrative assistant salary states are Montana, Delaware, and Arkansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $48,455 | $23.30 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $42,324 | $20.35 |
| 3 | Alaska | $44,781 | $21.53 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $48,591 | $23.36 |
| 5 | Oregon | $40,586 | $19.51 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $40,729 | $19.58 |
| 7 | Michigan | $40,788 | $19.61 |
| 8 | Utah | $37,390 | $17.98 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $43,101 | $20.72 |
| 10 | Washington | $46,464 | $22.34 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $40,956 | $19.69 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $43,570 | $20.95 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $37,762 | $18.15 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $43,436 | $20.88 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $36,621 | $17.61 |
| 17 | New York | $36,425 | $17.51 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $38,685 | $18.60 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $34,981 | $16.82 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $35,629 | $17.13 |
| 21 | Arizona | $34,825 | $16.74 |
| 22 | California | $42,162 | $20.27 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $34,997 | $16.83 |
| 24 | Illinois | $36,149 | $17.38 |
| 25 | Maine | $34,989 | $16.82 |
| 26 | Indiana | $35,609 | $17.12 |
| 27 | Colorado | $34,726 | $16.70 |
| 28 | Nevada | $34,482 | $16.58 |
| 29 | Vermont | $37,157 | $17.86 |
| 30 | Kansas | $34,810 | $16.74 |
| 31 | Ohio | $32,937 | $15.84 |
| 32 | Texas | $32,987 | $15.86 |
| 33 | Iowa | $32,898 | $15.82 |
| 34 | Alabama | $33,315 | $16.02 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $32,962 | $15.85 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $32,780 | $15.76 |
| 37 | Montana | $30,081 | $14.46 |
| 38 | Idaho | $30,227 | $14.53 |
| 39 | Missouri | $33,909 | $16.30 |
| 40 | Maryland | $35,185 | $16.92 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $30,654 | $14.74 |
| 42 | Georgia | $31,961 | $15.37 |
| 43 | Delaware | $29,436 | $14.15 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $31,713 | $15.25 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $30,998 | $14.90 |
| 46 | Florida | $28,385 | $13.65 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $31,317 | $15.06 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $29,039 | $13.96 |
| 49 | Virginia | $31,872 | $15.32 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $27,689 | $13.31 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $26,233 | $12.61 |
The highest-paying cities for program and administrative assistants are Washington, DC, Farmington, CT, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $48,596 | $23.36 |
| 2 | Farmington, CT | $48,415 | $23.28 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $46,661 | $22.43 |
| 4 | Juneau, AK | $43,994 | $21.15 |
| 5 | Fall River, MA | $43,890 | $21.10 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $43,076 | $20.71 |
| 7 | Eugene, OR | $40,674 | $19.55 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | $40,579 | $19.51 |
| 9 | Rochester, MN | $40,188 | $19.32 |
| 10 | Manchester, NH | $36,673 | $17.63 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $36,479 | $17.54 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $36,249 | $17.43 |
| 13 | Scranton, PA | $35,624 | $17.13 |
| 14 | Gaithersburg, MD | $35,031 | $16.84 |
| 15 | Phoenix, AZ | $34,844 | $16.75 |
| 16 | Westminster, CO | $34,806 | $16.73 |
| 17 | Saint Louis, MO | $33,862 | $16.28 |
| 18 | Chapel Hill, NC | $33,133 | $15.93 |
| 19 | Austin, TX | $32,985 | $15.86 |
| 20 | Ottumwa, IA | $32,445 | $15.60 |
A program and administrative assistant's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $35,631 | $2,969 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
The highest paying types of program and administrative assistants are administrative staff, associate administrative assistant, and administrative assistant/technical.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Support | $37,692 | $3,141 | $18.12 | 114,480 |
| Administrative Staff | $77,101 | $6,425 | $37.07 | 119,030 |
Top companies hiring program and administrative assistants now:
Program and administrative assistant salaries at UC Santa Barbara and University of California, Berkeley are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average program and administrative assistant salary at companies like National Center for Appropriate Technology and Stanford University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UC Santa Barbara | $45,993 | $22.11 |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley | $45,899 | $22.07 |
| 3 | National Center for Appropriate Technology | $44,004 | $21.16 |
| 4 | Stanford University | $43,929 | $21.12 |
| 5 | University of California | $43,756 | $21.04 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $43,000 | $20.67 |
| 7 | Emory University | $42,186 | $20.28 |
| 8 | Northrop Grumman | $41,731 | $20.06 |
| 9 | Rowan University | $41,497 | $19.95 |
| 10 | Raymond James Financial | $39,962 | $19.21 |
| 11 | Dartmouth | $39,597 | $19.04 |
| 12 | University of Illinois Springfield | $39,590 | $19.03 |
| 13 | International Rescue Committee | $39,482 | $18.98 |
| 14 | Multnomah Education Service District | $39,212 | $18.85 |
| 15 | United States Institute of Peace | $38,944 | $18.72 |
| 16 | Raytheon Technologies | $38,742 | $18.63 |
| 17 | University of Rochester | $38,671 | $18.59 |
| 18 | Dodge City Community College | $38,644 | $18.58 |
| 19 | Arts In Action Community Charter Schools | $38,555 | $18.54 |
| 20 | Children's Hospital Colorado | $38,300 | $18.41 |
The average program and administrative assistant salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $34,661 | $16.66 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $34,535 | $16.60 |
| 3 | Health Care | $34,233 | $16.46 |
| 4 | Government | $32,965 | $15.85 |
The average program and administrative assistant salary has risen by $6,402 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average program and administrative assistant earned $29,229 annually, but today, they earn $35,631 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for program and administrative assistants over the last decade.
Compare program and administrative assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare program and administrative assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,600 | $17.13 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $34,600 | $16.62 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $33,600 | $16.15 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $32,600 | $15.69 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $31,900 | $15.35 | +2.6% |
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