Cost of hiring in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA
BLS counts about 5,890 people in these 14 roles in Amherst Town-Northampton1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($85,320 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($41,770), and Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 1,250 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Amherst Town-Northampton
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +11.4% | 490 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | +9.9% | 410 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +7.5% | 1,250 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +6.7% | 250 | |
| Recruiter | +6.4% | 310 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +4.2% | 320 | |
| Paralegal | +1.8% | 100 | |
| Accountant | +0.8% | 490 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +0.8% | 60 | |
| Office Manager | -1.7% | 650 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -2.7% | 760 | |
| Executive Assistant | -5.9% | 240 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -7.9% | 350 | |
| Project Coordinator | -16.6% | 210 |
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 $51,100 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $65,935 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Amherst Town-Northampton against the US
Amherst Town-Northampton pays above the US median for 7 of the 14 roles, most of all for bookkeepers (+11.4%) and virtual receptionists (+9.9%), and below it for 5, furthest for project coordinators (-16.6%). For accountants and payroll specialists it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 14 is +1.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs more here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for recruiters, #27 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for project coordinators, #348 of 518.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Amherst Town-Northampton has more administrative assistants (21.2% of these jobs here, against 11.0% nationally) and executive assistants (4.1% against 3.0%), and fewer project coordinators (3.6% against 6.8%) and sales development representatives (4.2% against 8.1%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Fresno, CA is nearest, at +1.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | +1.3% (this area) | 14 | 5,890 |
| Fresno, CA | +1.3% | 17 | 35,190 |
| Syracuse, NY | +1.3% | 17 | 32,030 |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY | +1.3% | 17 | 51,930 |
| Lexington Park, MD | +1.2% | 14 | 6,240 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | +1.2% | 17 | 19,610 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Amherst Town-Northampton span $44,310–$133,030, the widest band (3.0×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $35,460–$51,860. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 13 of 14 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists, project coordinators and accountants: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($82,990 against a $72,550 median for marketing specialists).
Amherst Town-Northampton against Massachusetts
Against Massachusetts as a whole, Amherst Town-Northampton pays less for every one of the 14 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for virtual receptionists (-4.8%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-28.7%). It has the lowest median in Massachusetts for project coordinators, accountants and marketing specialists and 2 more roles.
Other areas in Massachusetts
By jobs in these roles, Amherst Town-Northampton is #5 of 7 areas in Massachusetts. The table shows the other 6.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge, MA-NH | 302,950 | 17 |
| Worcester, MA | 32,420 | 17 |
| Springfield, MA | 17,070 | 17 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 8,510 | 14 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 5,230 | 15 |
| Massachusetts (Nonmetro) | 3,430 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Amherst Town-Northampton?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $85,320 a year, about $110,090 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $41,770.
Is hiring in Amherst Town-Northampton cheaper than the US median?
For 5 of the 14 roles, yes, most of all project coordinators (-16.6%). 7 pay more than the US median, led by bookkeepers (+11.4%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.