How Much Does an Office Assistant Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$45,010
Office assistants in the U.S. earn a median of $45,010 a year, or $21.64 an hour. Half of office assistants earn more than $45,010 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $64,680.
Pay percentiles for office assistants
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $14.57 | $30,310 |
| 25th | $17.48 | $36,350 |
| 50th (median) | $21.64 | $45,010 |
| 75th | $26.11 | $54,300 |
| 90th | $31.10 | $64,680 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Office Clerks, General (SOC 43-9061). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for office assistants
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $55,040 | $26.46 | +22% |
| Colorado | $53,550 | $25.75 | +19% |
| Alaska | $51,890 | $24.95 | +15% |
| Washington | $50,500 | $24.28 | +12% |
| North Dakota | $50,160 | $24.11 | +11% |
| Massachusetts | $49,940 | $24.01 | +11% |
| Oregon | $49,910 | $23.99 | +11% |
| New Hampshire | $49,020 | $23.57 | +9% |
| New Jersey | $48,570 | $23.35 | +8% |
| California | $48,460 | $23.30 | +8% |
| United States | $45,010 | $21.64 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many office assistants are there?
BLS counts about 2,464,940 office assistants employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Office Clerks, General”. The most jobs are in California (311,490), Texas (218,470) and Florida (189,700).
The mean (average) annual wage is $46,420, higher than the median of $45,010.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $3,751
- Biweekly
- $1,731
- Weekly
- $866
- Daily (8 hours)
- $173
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do office assistants make an hour?
The median hourly wage for office assistants is $21.64. The middle 50% earn between $17.48 and $26.11 an hour.
Which state pays office assistants the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for office assistants at $55,040, +22% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for office assistants?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of office assistants earn less than $30,310 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.