Executive Assistant salary in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
The West Central Illinois nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for executive assistants: the median of $59,490 a year1 is 20.0% below the Illinois statewide median of $74,390, and 22.3% below the US median of $76,590. Among US areas it comes in at #369 of 509. About 300 executive assistants work here, 2% of the Illinois total.
BLS occupation 43-6011, area West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area against Illinois and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | $43,110 | $59,490 | $90,220 | |
| Illinois | $50,750 | $74,390 | $104,850 | |
| United States | $50,560 | $76,590 | $109,850 |
Executive assistants at the 90th percentile earn $90,220, 2.1 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.2. The middle half of executive assistants in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area earns $51,030–$71,990. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $20,960 wide, against $35,590 across Illinois and $33,000 nationally: employers in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an executive assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,110 | $3,592 | $20.73 | $55,626 |
| 25th percentile | $51,030 | $4,252 | $24.53 | $65,845 |
| Median | $59,490 | $4,958 | $28.60 | $76,761 |
| 75th percentile | $71,990 | $5,999 | $34.61 | $92,890 |
| 90th percentile | $90,220 | $7,518 | $43.38 | $116,413 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $12,500 a year in pay and about $16,129 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $8,460 in pay. 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 $76,590 falls between the 75th and 90th percentiles in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, and the Illinois statewide median of $74,390 falls there too. An offer at the national rate would beat what three quarters of local executive assistants earn.
What a hire really costs in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area
At the $59,490 median, a local hire costs about $76,761 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $17,271 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open executive assistant roles pay $800–$1,100 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 5.3 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 6.4 times the remote figure of $11,988. 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 West Central Illinois nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, this one ranks #5 by median pay, between office managers ($60,370) and payroll specialists ($50,810). Project Coordinator is the highest at $93,300.
| Role | Median | vs executive assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiter | +9.9% | 540 | |
| Office Manager | +1.5% | 960 | |
| Executive Assistant | this role | 300 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -14.6% | 120 | |
| Paralegal | -17.2% | 110 |
Measured against the US median, executive assistants rank #15 of the 17 roles we track in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area (-22.3%), between paralegals (-21.7%) and sales development representatives (-30.1%). The typical role here is at -13.1%, so, measured against the US, executive assistants cost less in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Executive assistants hold 2.3% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, 2.4% across Illinois and 2.9% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 12 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $53,720 in the South Illinois nonmetro area to $77,770 in Chicago-Naperville, a gap of $24,050 a year. Of the 3 areas in Illinois with more executive assistants than the West Central Illinois nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the South Illinois nonmetro area ($53,720).
| Area | Median | vs the West Central Illinois nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | +7.3% | 270 | |
| Rockford, IL | +4.4% | 160 | |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | +2.7% | 180 | |
| Decatur, IL | +1.7% | 80 | |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | this area | 300 | |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | -4.6% | 250 | |
| South Illinois (Nonmetro) | -9.7% | 350 |
the West Central Illinois nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Central Illinois nonmetro area is #176 of 506 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Illinois, Youngstown-Warren and Florence pay just above the West Central Illinois nonmetro area and Asheville and Florence-Muscle Shoals just below. All four are within $200 a year of the median in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many executive assistants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Central Illinois nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | +23.1% | 300 | jobs | |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | +2.6% | 300 | jobs | |
| Florence, SC | +0.3% | 110 | pay | |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | +0.1% | 200 | pay | |
| West Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | this area | 300 | ||
| Asheville, NC | -0.1% | 250 | pay | |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | -0.2% | 40 | pay | |
| Monroe, LA | -18.8% | 300 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an executive assistant in West Central Illinois (Nonmetro)?
About $76,761 a year at the median, or $6,397 a month: $59,490 in pay plus about $17,271 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do executive assistants earn in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
The median was $59,490 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $43,110, the 90th $90,220, and the middle half earned $51,030 to $71,990.
Is the West Central Illinois nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Illinois for executive assistants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $59,490 against $74,390 statewide. The next area up in Illinois is Decatur at $60,490, the next down the East Central Illinois nonmetro area at $56,760.
How many executive assistants work in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 300 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Illinois total of 14,900. 3 areas in Illinois have more; the closest in size is the South Illinois nonmetro area, with about 350.
Does an executive assistant cost more than a payroll specialist in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
Yes: $8,680 a year more at the median. The medians are $59,490 and $50,810.
What does a remote executive assistant cost compared with the West Central Illinois nonmetro area?
Our open roles pay $800–$1,100 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $14,488, against about $76,761 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6011: 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.