How Much Does a Program Assistant Make? (2025)
Program assistants offer administrative assistance for nonprofit initiatives, facilitating fundraising, financial management, outreach, and event coordination. They oversee scheduling, address public inquiries, oversee CRM databases, and assist in the creation of marketing materials.
This salary guide will thoroughly discuss the overview of a program assistant salary, as well as factors that affect their compensation, necessary steps to have higher pay, and some related frequently asked questions.
What is the Average Program Assistant's Salary?
As of July 30, 2025, the average program assistant salary in the United States is $49,360 per year. The compensation usually ranges from $37,190 to $59,657, with most program assistants earning around $642,990 to $54,750.
2025 Average Salary for Program Assistants: $49,360 per year ($24 per hour)
The average Program Assistant salary per month is $4,113 while the average weekly rate is $949.
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $18 | $715 | $3,099 | $37,190 |
| 25th Percentile | $21 | $827 | $3,583 | $42,990 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $24 | $949 | $4,113 | $49,360 |
| 75th Percentile | $26 | $1,053 | $4,563 | $54,750 |
| 90th Percentile | $29 | $1,147 | $4,971 | $59,657 |
Program Assistant Salaries State by State
Program Assistant salaries vary in each state due to key factors like living costs, local economies, and industry presence.
According to Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report, the state with the highest average annual program assistant salary is the District of Columbia with $54,650, followed by California with $54,440 and Massachusetts with $53,710. Meanwhile, the state with the lowest average annual salary is Mississippi with $44,020, followed by South Dakota with $44,860 and West Virginia with $44,450.
| States | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $53,430 |
| Alabama | $45,340 |
| Arkansas | $44,590 |
| Arizona | $48,090 |
| California | $54,440 |
| Colorado | $50,360 |
| Connecticut | $52,750 |
| District of Columbia | $54,650 |
| Delaware | $49,980 |
| Florida | $46,700 |
| Georgia | $47,600 |
| Hawaii | $51,590 |
| Iowa | $47,230 |
| Idaho | $46,070 |
| Illinois | $50,310 |
| Indiana | $47,380 |
| Kansas | $47,000 |
| Kentucky | $46,440 |
| Louisiana | $46,930 |
| Massachusetts | $53,710 |
| Maryland | $50,890 |
| Maine | $48,120 |
| Michigan | $48,610 |
| Minnesota | $50,510 |
| Missouri | $46,890 |
| Mississippi | $44,020 |
| Montana | $46,600 |
| North Carolina | $46,900 |
| North Dakota | $48,750 |
| Nebraska | $46,500 |
| New Hampshire | $49,900 |
| New Jersey | $53,500 |
| New Mexico | $45,710 |
| Nevada | $48,850 |
| New York | $52,470 |
| Ohio | $48,060 |
| Oklahoma | $45,630 |
| Oregon | $50,120 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,130 |
| Rhode Island | $51,170 |
| South Carolina | $46,250 |
| South Dakota | $44,860 |
| Tennessee | $46,250 |
| Texas | $48,140 |
| Utah | $47,260 |
| Virginia | $49,700 |
| Vermont | $48,440 |
| Washington | $53,520 |
| Wisconsin | $48,550 |
| West Virginia | $44,450 |
| Wyoming | $47,330 |
What are the Best-Paying Cities for Program Assistants?
The cities that give the best salary for program assistants are shown in the table below. With an average annual compensation of $62,250, San Jose, California is the best-paying city.
| Cities | Average Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, California | $62,250 ($30 per hour) |
| San Francisco, California | $61,640 ($30 per hour) |
| Oakland, California | $60,270 ($29 per hour) |
| New York, New York | $57,200 ($28 per hour) |
| Queens Village, New York | $56,830 ($27 per hour) |
| Paramus, New Jersey | $56,430 ($27 per hour) |
How Does Experience Affect Program Assistant Salaries?
Just like any profession, more experience will lead to higher pay when it comes to program assistant salary.
With less than a year of experience, an entry level position will have an average starting salary of $48,385. An intermediate level program assistant with 1 to 2 years of experience gets $48,678.
A senior level with 2 to 4 years of experience will have $49,770, while the specialist level with 5 to 8 years of experience usually gets $50,999 on average. The most experienced program assistant is on the expert level with over 8 years of practice, earning $51,163.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Program Assistant | $48,385 |
| Intermediate Level Program Assistant | $48,678 |
| Senior Level Program Assistant | $49,770 |
| Specialist Level Program Assistant | $50,999 |
| Expert Level Program Assistant | $51,163 |
How to Increase Salary as a Program Assistant?
Program assistants typically necessitate a bachelor's degree in social studies, psychology, or social services presumably providing helpful foundational knowledge.
When these qualifications are met, there are ways that can increase the salary of program assistants. Here are some of them:
Program Assistant Advancements
Gain experience - Gaining experience as a program assistant can lead to steady salary growth, with earnings increasing from $48,385 at the entry level to $51,163 at the expert level. As you move from intermediate to senior and specialist roles, each additional year of experience helps boost your average salary.
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Apply in high-paying sectors - Industries differ in compensation, so you must choose high-paying large companies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the top industries with high median annual wages for social and human service assistant, including program assistants:
Local government, excluding education and hospitals: $50,200
State government, excluding education and hospitals: $48,690
Individual and family services: $44,350
Community food and housing, emergency and other relief services, and vocational rehabilitation services: $42,290
Nursing and residential care facilities: $41,900
Consider moving to higher paying cities - Moving to cities that offer higher salaries can substantially increase a program assistant's income, as shown by San Jose, California, which offers up to $62,250 per year. Cities like San Francisco, Oakland, and New York offer high compensation, rendering location an essential component in increasing income.
What are the FAQs About Program Assistant Salaries?
Here are some common questions about Program Assistant salary:
What does a program assistant do?
Program assistants deliver operational and administrative assistance for one or more programs within a non-profit organization. They facilitate fundraising, financial management, research, and community outreach initiatives. They also develop a program event calendar, arrange meetings, and organize training sessions.
Job postings for this job role's responsibilities also include addressing public queries by providing information and materials. They manage and sustain a database concerning donations, fundraising, volunteers, and partners utilizing a client relationship management (CRM) system or an alternative platform and produce reports. And they facilitate the development of promotional materials, correspondence, or website content.
Are program assistants well paid?
Yes, program assistants are well paid, with an average annual salary of $49,360 or $24 per hour. The yearly range is $37,190 to $59,657, the monthly range is $3,099 to $4,971, the weekly range is $715 to $1,147, while the hourly range is $18 to $29.
What are the highest paying cities for program assistants?
Some of the highest paying cities for program assistants include California, San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland which the salaries are $62,250, $61,640 and $60,270 per year, respectively. Another city with a high paying salary for program assistant is New York which is $57,200 per year.
