Cost of hiring in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 15 jobs in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area, with about 1,450 people1. Medians run from $29,520 a year for virtual receptionists to $89,650 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -8.2% | 40 | |
| Project Coordinator | -12.4% | 190 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -19.6% | 110 | |
| Recruiter | -21.0% | 230 | |
| Paralegal | -21.6% | 100 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -22.3% | 420 | |
| Bookkeeper | -22.7% | 600 | |
| Accountant | -22.9% | 320 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -23.2% | 100 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -23.3% | 640 | |
| Office Manager | -28.1% | 760 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -28.8% | 1,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | -30.4% | 180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -34.4% | 200 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -40.4% | 130 |
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 $33,860 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $43,690 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Central Louisiana nonmetro area against the US
The Central Louisiana nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 15 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-8.2%) and project coordinators (-12.4%) and largest for marketing specialists (-40.4%). The middle gap across all 15 is -22.9%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for project coordinators, #295 of 518 areas by median pay; its lowest is for administrative assistants, #520 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Central Louisiana nonmetro area has more administrative assistants (26.5% of these jobs here, against 10.9% nationally) and payroll specialists (2.0% against 1.0%), and fewer medical administrative assistants (1.8% against 6.1%) and marketing specialists (2.4% against 5.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Valdosta, GA is nearest, at -22.8%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | -22.1% | 16 | 7,690 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | -22.3% | 14 | 3,590 |
| Valdosta, GA | -22.8% | 15 | 4,420 |
| Central Louisiana (Nonmetro) | -22.9% (this area) | 15 | 5,470 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | -23.6% | 11 | 1,250 |
| Laredo, TX | -24.2% | 17 | 10,520 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area span $31,600–$98,690, the widest band (3.1×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $28,840–$47,490. Wider than nationally for paralegals and bookkeepers, narrower for sales development representatives and marketing specialists. Budget from the median for sales development representatives, marketing specialists, project coordinators and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($56,910 against a $45,880 median for sales development representatives).
the Central Louisiana nonmetro area against Louisiana
Against Louisiana as a whole, the Central Louisiana nonmetro area pays more only for project coordinators (+5.7%), and less for 13, most of all marketing specialists (-21.3%). It has the lowest median in Louisiana for marketing specialists, administrative assistants and virtual receptionists.
Other areas in Louisiana
By jobs in these roles, the Central Louisiana nonmetro area is #10 of 13 areas in Louisiana. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Shreveport-Bossier City to Hammond.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 15,130 | 16 |
| Lafayette, LA | 14,680 | 16 |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | 9,120 | 14 |
| Monroe, LA | 7,200 | 16 |
| Southwest Louisiana (Nonmetro) | 7,180 | 14 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 7,080 | 14 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | 6,390 | 15 |
| Alexandria, LA | 4,980 | 14 |
| Northeast Louisiana (Nonmetro) | 4,440 | 14 |
| Hammond, LA | 3,540 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $89,650 a year, about $115,677 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $29,520.
Is hiring in the Central Louisiana nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 15 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-40.4%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.