Administrative assistants in churches often earn less than their counterparts in for-profit organizations. This is generally true of many nonprofit occupations. Those working part-time often earn less per hour than those working full-time as well. Each church or denomination sets its own salaries for the administrative assistants it hires. Experience, education, location and the complexity of job tasks contribute to the differences in wages among church administrative assistants.

National

The average hourly wage of an administrative assistant, which generally has a more complex job description than a secretary or receptionist, was $22.05, as of May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10th percentile made up to $13.82 per hour, and the 25th percentile made up to $16.79 per hour. The median hourly rate was $20.92, and the 75th percentile made up to $26.32 per hour. The 90th percentile made at least $32.21 per hour.

Nonprofits

In general, nonprofit organizations pay lower salaries than for-profit organizations. Churches are usually registered as nonprofit organizations. They may, however, offer more flexible schedules and better health insurance options, retirement plan and paid time off than a for-profit company. What nonprofits can't pay for in salary, they often make up for in other ways.

Part-Time

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average hourly salary for part-time office and administrative support workers was $12.15 for civilian workers, as found by the National Compensation Survey of December 2007 to January 2009. Those in private industry earned an average of $12.14 per hour. This compares to $16.15 for full-time office and administrative support workers who are civilians and $16.01 for full-time private industry workers.

Church Examples

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, posted a job opening for a part-time administrative assistant on its website, active at the time of publication, with a salary range of between $12 and $14. The position included a week of paid vacation per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average hourly wage of an administrative assistant working for a religious organization, as of May 2010, was $13.80. The 10th percentile made up to $9.16, and the 25th percentile earned up to $10.98. The median hourly rate was $13.47, and the 75th percentile earned up to $16.26. The 90th percentile made at least $18.90 per hour.