Cost of hiring in the Arizona nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 16 jobs in the Arizona nonmetro area, with about 1,310 people1. Medians run from $34,850 a year for data entry specialists to $78,250 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Arizona nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +1.0% | 370 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.4% | 610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -7.6% | 1,310 | |
| Bookkeeper | -8.2% | 760 | |
| HR Assistant | -8.9% | 40 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -9.9% | 1,190 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -13.7% | 290 | |
| Accountant | -14.7% | 510 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -15.7% | 40 | |
| Office Manager | -16.8% | 820 | |
| Executive Assistant | -20.2% | 190 | |
| Recruiter | -20.3% | 460 | |
| Project Coordinator | -23.5% | 290 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -25.9% | 100 | |
| Paralegal | -26.5% | 150 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -36.3% | 180 |
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 $43,920 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $56,671 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Arizona nonmetro area against the US
The Arizona nonmetro area pays above the US median for only one of the 16 roles, medical administrative assistants (+1.0%), and below it for 15, furthest for marketing specialists (-36.3%). The middle gap across all 16 is -15.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for medical administrative assistants, #137 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for payroll specialists, #471 of 486.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Arizona nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (17.9% of these jobs here, against 10.8% nationally) and virtual receptionists (8.3% against 5.8%), and fewer marketing specialists (2.5% against 5.7%) and sales development representatives (4.0% against 8.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL is nearest, at -15.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala, FL | -15.1% | 17 | 10,870 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | -15.1% | 15 | 3,920 |
| Arizona (Nonmetro) | -15.2% (this area) | 16 | 7,310 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | -15.3% | 13 | 5,600 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | -15.3% | 17 | 12,130 |
| Las Cruces, NM | -15.4% | 14 | 8,050 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, accountants in the Arizona nonmetro area span $38,130–$119,870, the widest band (3.1×); virtual receptionists the narrowest, $30,580–$46,310. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 16 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists, paralegals, project coordinators and 4 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($63,490 against a $50,190 median for marketing specialists).
the Arizona nonmetro area against Arizona
Against Arizona as a whole, the Arizona nonmetro area pays more only for medical administrative assistants (+1.2%), and less for 15, most of all marketing specialists (-30.2%). It has the lowest median in Arizona for recruiters, marketing specialists and paralegals and 1 more role.
Other areas in Arizona
By jobs in these roles, the Arizona nonmetro area is #3 of 8 areas in Arizona. The table shows the other 7.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | 266,470 | 17 |
| Tucson, AZ | 35,710 | 17 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | 6,210 | 15 |
| Yuma, AZ | 5,580 | 16 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 5,220 | 16 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 5,000 | 15 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 2,880 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Arizona nonmetro area?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $78,250 a year, about $100,968 with benefits; the lowest is Data Entry Specialist, $34,850.
Is hiring in the Arizona nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 15 of the 16 roles, yes, most of all marketing specialists (-36.3%). One pays more than the US median: medical administrative assistants (+1.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.