Cost of hiring in Altoona, PA
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 15 jobs in Altoona, with about 800 people1. Medians run from $32,240 a year for virtual receptionists to $87,660 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Altoona
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Entry Specialist | +0.6% | 30 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -12.8% | 40 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -13.1% | 280 | |
| Office Manager | -13.4% | 510 | |
| Project Coordinator | -14.3% | 270 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -15.2% | 370 | |
| Bookkeeper | -15.8% | 470 | |
| Recruiter | -15.8% | 310 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -16.1% | 800 | |
| Executive Assistant | -16.6% | 80 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -17.2% | 260 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -17.9% | 640 | |
| Accountant | -21.5% | 490 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.6% | 150 | |
| Paralegal | -21.9% | 60 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $37,540 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $48,439 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Altoona against the US
Altoona pays below the US median for 14 of the 15 roles, furthest for paralegals (-21.9%). For data entry specialists it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 15 is -15.8%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for data entry specialists, #120 of 394 areas by median pay; its lowest is for accountants, #488 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Altoona has more virtual receptionists (7.8% of these jobs here, against 5.8% nationally) and administrative assistants (13.4% against 10.9%), and fewer paralegals (1.3% against 2.5%) and marketing specialists (3.2% against 5.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Florence, SC is nearest, at -15.7%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling, WV-OH | -15.6% | 16 | 4,830 |
| Mobile, AL | -15.6% | 16 | 17,970 |
| Albany, GA | -15.6% | 15 | 5,610 |
| Tyler, TX | -15.6% | 16 | 10,470 |
| Florence, SC | -15.7% | 14 | 8,060 |
| Altoona, PA | -15.8% (this area) | 15 | 4,760 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Altoona span $32,810–$113,010, the widest band (3.4×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $32,580–$47,460. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 15 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, recruiters, paralegals and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($66,860 against a $57,970 median for sales development representatives).
Altoona against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, Altoona pays more only for data entry specialists (+7.2%), and less for 14, most of all paralegals (-22.5%). It has the lowest median in Pennsylvania for accountants and paralegals.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, Altoona is #15 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from the Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetro area to Gettysburg.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,870 | 17 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,340 | 17 |
| Erie, PA | 9,750 | 17 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 9,700 | 17 |
| State College, PA | 5,930 | 15 |
| Chambersburg, PA | 4,340 | 15 |
| Lebanon, PA | 3,880 | 15 |
| Williamsport, PA | 3,880 | 15 |
| Johnstown, PA | 3,870 | 15 |
| Gettysburg, PA | 2,320 | 12 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Altoona?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $87,660 a year, about $113,110 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $32,240.
Is hiring in Altoona cheaper than the US median?
Mostly: no role pays more than the US median, and 14 of 15 pay less.
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.