Cost of hiring in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 14 jobs in Cape Girardeau, with about 580 people1. Medians run from $34,750 a year for virtual receptionists to $78,150 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Cape Girardeau
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | -8.6% | 330 | |
| Bookkeeper | -9.6% | 310 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.7% | 580 | |
| Office Manager | -15.6% | 320 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -18.7% | 290 | |
| Recruiter | -20.1% | 230 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -21.2% | 500 | |
| Accountant | -23.5% | 320 | |
| Project Coordinator | -23.6% | 200 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -25.1% | 40 | |
| Paralegal | -26.6% | 60 | |
| Executive Assistant | -30.3% | 90 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -30.7% | 180 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -36.1% | 140 |
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 $38,190 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $49,277 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Cape Girardeau against the US
Cape Girardeau pays below the US median for all 14 roles. The gap is smallest for virtual receptionists (-8.6%) and bookkeepers (-9.6%) and largest for marketing specialists (-36.1%). The middle gap across all 14 is -22.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for virtual receptionists, #355 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for accountants, #507 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Cape Girardeau has more virtual receptionists (9.2% of these jobs here, against 5.8% nationally) and medical administrative assistants (8.1% against 6.2%), and fewer sales development representatives (5.0% against 8.1%) and paralegals (1.7% against 2.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Fort Smith, AR-OK is nearest, at -22.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen-Edinburg, TX | -21.6% | 17 | 28,300 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | -22.1% | 16 | 7,690 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -22.3% (this area) | 14 | 3,590 |
| Hammond, LA | -22.6% | 14 | 3,540 |
| Valdosta, GA | -22.8% | 15 | 4,420 |
| Monroe, LA | -22.8% | 16 | 7,200 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Cape Girardeau span $31,610–$104,230, the widest band (3.3×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $33,800–$48,930. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 14 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, project coordinators and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($61,640 against a $48,510 median for sales development representatives).
Cape Girardeau against Missouri
Against Missouri as a whole, Cape Girardeau pays less for every one of the 14 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for virtual receptionists (-2.8%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-28.2%). It has the lowest median in Missouri for payroll specialists.
Other areas in Missouri
By jobs in these roles, Cape Girardeau is #12 of 12 areas in Missouri. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Kansas City to St. Joseph.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 118,710 | 17 |
| Springfield, MO | 20,430 | 16 |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,450 | 16 |
| Columbia, MO | 10,200 | 16 |
| Central Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,000 | 17 |
| Jefferson City, MO | 8,300 | 16 |
| North Missouri (Nonmetro) | 7,120 | 15 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | 6,160 | 14 |
| Southwest Missouri (Nonmetro) | 5,240 | 16 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | 3,920 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Cape Girardeau?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $78,150 a year, about $100,839 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $34,750.
Is hiring in Cape Girardeau cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 14 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-36.1%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.