Customer Support Specialist salary in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area
Of the 9 areas in Minnesota with BLS pay data for this job, the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area has the lowest median: $44,430 a year1. That is 9.0% below the Minnesota statewide median of $48,800, and about level with the US median of $44,770. Among US areas it comes in at #160 of 520. About 540 customer support specialists work here, 1% of the Minnesota total.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area against Minnesota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | $31,190 | $44,430 | $62,060 | |
| Minnesota | $35,730 | $48,800 | $72,830 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
The middle half of customer support specialists in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area earns $36,140–$51,050. The top tenth earns $62,060 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $14,910 wide, between the figure for Minnesota ($18,480) and the US figure ($14,910).
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,190 | $2,599 | $15.00 | $40,245 |
| 25th percentile | $36,140 | $3,012 | $17.38 | $46,632 |
| Median | $44,430 | $3,702 | $21.36 | $57,329 |
| 75th percentile | $51,050 | $4,254 | $24.54 | $65,871 |
| 90th percentile | $62,060 | $5,172 | $29.84 | $80,077 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,290 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,620, or about $8,542 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $44,770 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area, and the Minnesota statewide median of $48,800 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $12,899 to the $44,430 median and brings it to $57,329 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,5003 with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month4. Change any number below to match your plan.
A local hire here costs about 4.3 times as much as a remote hire in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two, when the fee drops out, it is 5.3 times the remote figure of $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our assessment platform with a written and a spoken English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff interviews every shortlisted candidate live, in English, before you meet them.
Other roles in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area
Of the 15 roles we track in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area, this one ranks #14 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($46,640) and virtual receptionists ($35,360). Project Coordinator is the highest at $91,150.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +13.4% | 230 | |
| Bookkeeper | +12.7% | 460 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +5.0% | 480 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 540 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -20.4% | 170 |
Measured against the US median, customer support specialists rank #3 of the 15 roles we track in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area (-0.8%), between HR assistants (+7.1%) and bookkeepers (-1.2%). The typical role here is at -6.0%, so, measured against the US, customer support specialists cost more in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Customer support specialists hold 17.6% of the jobs in these 15 roles in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area, 18.4% across Minnesota and 16.6% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Minnesota
Across the 9 areas of Minnesota with data for this job, the median runs from $44,430 in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area to $49,480 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, a gap of $5,050 a year. All 8 areas in Minnesota with more customer support specialists than the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area also pay more, among them Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI ($49,480) and the Northwest Minnesota nonmetro area ($47,720).
| Area | Median | vs the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +7.4% | 2,800 | |
| Mankato, MN | +6.5% | 1,030 | |
| Rochester, MN | +5.9% | 1,250 | |
| Southeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +2.6% | 1,890 | |
| Duluth, MN-WI | +1.1% | 1,500 | |
| Southwest Minnesota (Nonmetro) | +0.3% | 1,230 | |
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | this area | 540 |
the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area is #463 of 520 US areas for this job. The market is small, and its pay sits near the middle of the US range. Outside Minnesota, Canton-Massillon and Winchester pay just above the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area and Kansas City and Lancaster just below. All four are within $140 a year of the median in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many customer support specialists, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fond du Lac, WI | +6.9% | 530 | jobs | |
| Winchester, VA-WV | +0.1% | 1,130 | pay | |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | +0.0% | 2,590 | pay | |
| Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro) | this area | 540 | ||
| Kansas City, MO-KS | -0.2% | 22,240 | pay | |
| Lancaster, PA | -0.3% | 3,440 | pay | |
| Terre Haute, IN | -13.1% | 530 | jobs | |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | -16.5% | 560 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Northeast Minnesota (Nonmetro)?
About $57,329 a year at the median, or $4,777 a month: $44,430 in pay plus about $12,899 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do customer support specialists earn in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area?
The median was $44,430 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $31,190, the 90th $62,060, and the middle half earned $36,140 to $51,050.
Is the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area the cheapest area in Minnesota for customer support specialists?
Yes. Its median of $44,430 is the lowest of 9 areas in Minnesota. The Southwest Minnesota nonmetro area is next at $44,550.
How many customer support specialists work in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 540 in the May 2025 survey. That is 1% of the Minnesota total of 53,340. 8 areas in Minnesota have more; the closest in size is Mankato, with about 1,030.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a virtual receptionist in the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area?
Yes: $9,070 a year more at the median. The medians are $44,430 and $35,360.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with the Northeast Minnesota nonmetro area?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $57,329 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.