Administrative assistant salary in California
The median administrative assistant in California earns $55,400 a year, or $26.64 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. That is 17% above the national median of $47,540, and 5th of the 54 states and territories BLS publishes.
The middle half of California’s 158,630 administrative assistants earn between $46,390 and $65,400. The highest paying metro area in the state is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $62,940.
Liaison does the routine half of an administrative assistant’s job for 10% of what one costs in California. See how.
Administrative assistant salary by city in California
Every metro area in California where BLS publishes a median for administrative assistants, highest first. A metro that crosses a state line appears under each of its states.
| Metro area | Median annual | Median hourly | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,940 | $30.26 | $53,220 to $77,380 | 7,970 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62,110 | $29.86 | $51,700 to $77,660 | 20,270 |
| Napa, CA | $58,810 | $28.27 | $49,020 to $65,260 | 630 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $57,720 | $27.75 | $47,840 to $69,680 | 2,150 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $57,510 | $27.65 | $46,420 to $68,410 | 960 |
| Salinas, CA | $57,340 | $27.57 | $46,920 to $65,880 | 1,500 |
| Vallejo, CA | $56,270 | $27.06 | $47,270 to $65,520 | 1,110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $55,380 | $26.62 | $46,730 to $64,080 | 12,070 |
| Modesto, CA | $55,140 | $26.51 | $46,510 to $61,060 | 1,830 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $55,020 | $26.45 | $46,690 to $63,710 | 8,450 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $54,170 | $26.04 | $45,830 to $61,480 | 300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $54,170 | $26.04 | $46,220 to $65,270 | 2,980 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $53,770 | $25.85 | $46,010 to $62,040 | 2,310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $53,550 | $25.75 | $44,720 to $64,290 | 58,800 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52,920 | $25.44 | $45,690 to $62,490 | 13,210 |
| Visalia, CA | $51,910 | $24.96 | $45,140 to $61,920 | 1,390 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $51,800 | $24.90 | $43,810 to $62,920 | 1,930 |
| Merced, CA | $51,710 | $24.86 | $43,910 to $61,320 | 620 |
| Yuba City, CA | $51,480 | $24.75 | $45,140 to $61,400 | 520 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $51,010 | $24.52 | $44,090 to $60,160 | 1,170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $50,960 | $24.50 | $44,710 to $61,540 | 2,730 |
| Fresno, CA | $50,100 | $24.09 | $44,490 to $60,440 | 3,870 |
| Redding, CA | $49,940 | $24.01 | $43,840 to $61,120 | 580 |
| Chico, CA | $49,810 | $23.95 | $41,600 to $58,950 | 810 |
| El Centro, CA | $49,150 | $23.63 | $43,550 to $60,130 | 540 |
What an administrative assistant costs an employer in California
Wages are the start. At employers with fewer than 50 workers, benefits add 35% on top (BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation), so an administrative assistant at the California median costs about $74,800 a year. The employer’s view for every state and metro is on what an administrative assistant costs, and the routine part of the job is what Liaison does inside the tools a business already runs.
The routine half of an administrative assistant’s job, for 10% of what one costs in California.
- Answers the routine email in your voice, from your own inbox, and files what needs filing.
- Books, reschedules and confirms appointments from your own calendar.
- Keeps the records straight across the inbox, the CRM and the calendar, so nothing is typed twice.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $74,800 a year for an administrative assistant at the California median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI office manager.
Questions
How much does an administrative assistant make in California?
The median administrative assistant in California earned $55,400 a year, or $26.64 an hour, in May 2025. The middle half earned between $46,390 and $65,400. Nationally the median is $47,540, so California pays 17% more than the country as a whole.
Which cities in California pay administrative assistants the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($62,940), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($62,110) and Napa, CA ($58,810).
What does an administrative assistant cost an employer in California?
Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages, so an administrative assistant at the California median costs about $74,800 a year. The employer’s view is at useliaison.com/back-office-costs/administrative-assistant.
Administrative assistant salary in other states
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 43-6014. Annual figures assume 2,080 hours a year. Updated 2026-10-02.
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