Hiring administrative talent in 2025? You might want to take a fresh look at what you’re offering (You can count on it being more than you paid in 2017).
Admin professionals are the backbone of your business (ours, too!), and those outdated pay ranges don’t cut it anymore.
In a city like Indianapolis, where competition is heating up, underpaying your admins isn’t just a bad look. It’s a fast track to losing talent before you even hit “schedule interview.”
So, how much should you actually be paying your admins this year?
We’re here to break it down.
What’s the Going Rate for Admin Roles in Indianapolis?
At That’s Good HR, we place hundreds of administrative professionals every year, so when it comes to understanding what’s normal, what’s generous, and what’s going to make candidates ghost your offer, we’ve got the inside scoop.
Here’s what we’re seeing in 2025:
Entry-Level Administrative Assistants: $17–$22/hour
These are your front-line multitaskers, answering phones, managing calendars, prepping reports, and generally keeping things from falling apart.
While they may not have years of experience yet, they do bring strong communication skills, tech fluency, and the flexibility to jump into just about anything.
In 2025, $15/hour simply isn’t going to cut it for these folks, not when Costco is paying more with benefits.If you’re offering under $17 an hour, expect candidates to (politely) pass.
Mid-Level Admins & Office Managers: $45K–$55K
Mid-level admins and office managers often wear multiple hats, handling everything from onboarding and facilities to event planning and vendor relationships.
They’re not just organizing – they help run the show.
Their roles typically require a few years of experience, deep knowledge of internal systems, and the kind of calm-under-pressure presence that makes an office actually work.
If you want someone who can manage the chaos without breaking a sweat, this pay range is where you need to be.
Executive Assistants & HR Admins: $55K–$70K+
These professionals aren’t just supporting your leadership. They’re protecting their time, reputation, and calendar with military precision.
Experienced Executive Assistants often act as your strategic partner, juggling high-level communications, managing sensitive information, and keeping execs on track.
Meanwhile, HR Admins are the operational backbone of your people functions: tracking benefits, maintaining compliance, and ensuring a smooth onboarding process.
HR is more essential than ever, and paying at the higher end of this range is becoming the new norm for top-tier talent.
Let’s just say, if you’re asking someone to handle your CEO’s inbox, build onboarding flows, and manage internal comms, don’t be surprised if they ask for more than $60K.
Between inflation, cost-of-living shifts, and a tight labor market, these numbers are only trending upward. Admin professionals know their worth, and they’re not afraid to ask for it.
How Indy Employers Are Stepping Up
Gone are the days when a strong admin candidate would jump at a lowball offer just for the stability. In 2025, they’re comparing benefits, flexibility, growth potential, and, of course, compensation.
According to LinkedIn’s 2024 Future of Recruiting report, the average time-to-hire has increased 18% since early 2023.
That means fewer people actively job hunting, which makes the admin candidates who are open to new opportunities even more valuable (and more selective).
So, if you’re trying to attract top-tier administrative talent this year, your offer needs to stand out.
Let’s explore what today’s admin professionals are really looking for, and how Indy employers are rising to the occasion with smarter, more competitive offers.
Better Benefits = Better Hires
It’s not just about pay anymore.
To stand out in a competitive market, many companies are revamping their benefits packages, offering more PTO, improved healthcare options, mental health support, and even student loan assistance.
These extra offerings show candidates that you’re investing in their well-being, not just their output. And when someone has three different job offers with similar admin salaries? Benefits are often what tip the scale.
If you’re rethinking your benefits package or wondering what other Indy employers are offering, our Hiring & Benefits Guide is a great place to start.
It’s packed with local insights to help you stay competitive, without the guessing.
Flexibility Is the New Non-Negotiable
Forget ping pong tables and pizza Fridays. Today’s admin professionals are looking for flexibility first.
Hybrid work arrangements are quickly becoming the norm, not the perk. And if you’re still requiring 5 days a week in the office for a $40K role? That admin candidate just ghosted your calendar invite.
We’re seeing more Indianapolis employers adapt by offering 2–3 remote days per week or flexible start/end times when possible, and it’s making a huge difference in attracting talent.
You’re Not Just Competing Locally Anymore
Thanks to remote work, Indy admin candidates aren’t just comparing your offer to one across town. They’re comparing it to one from Chicago, Atlanta, or a fully remote role at a company in California with a way bigger budget.
That means your admin salary needs to be competitive not just for Indianapolis, but for a broader market.
If your offer isn’t keeping up, your ideal candidate may never even apply.
What Most Employers Get Wrong About Admin Pay
Let us be clear: administrative roles are not one-size-fits-all, or entry-level by default.
And yet, too many job postings still treat them that way.
Employers will offer $15/hour and expect a unicorn who can manage the front desk, coordinate travel, plan events, onboard new hires, and maybe even fix the printer…all before noon.
Sound familiar?
The truth is, today’s admin professionals bring a powerful mix of skills to the table: tech-savvy, multitasking under pressure, emotional intelligence, and strong communication. Many are the glue that holds an office together, and that level of value deserves to be compensated accordingly.
Underpaying these roles doesn’t just slow down your hiring process. It actively repels the kind of talent you’re hoping to attract, and it sends a message (loud and clear) that you may not understand the scope or importance of the work.Not sure if your salary range is hitting the mark?
Grab our Indy Salary Guide for a clear breakdown of current admin salaries in Indianapolis. We’re here to help make sure your next offer is competitive and not “cringe,” as the young admins say 😉
Want Admin Talent That Sticks Around? Start Here.
When you partner with a local staffing agency like That’s Good HR (hi, that’s us 👋), you’re not guessing what the market wants.
You’re getting real-time data and direct feedback from candidates, and that means less time wasted, better interviews, and stronger long-term hires.Visit our website to start the conversation.
We’ll help you find the right person, offer the right pay, and avoid a hiring headache altogether.