Cost of hiring in the Central Missouri nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Central Missouri nonmetro area, with about 1,780 people1. Medians run from $33,990 a year for virtual receptionists to $74,080 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Central Missouri nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -6.9% | 80 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.7% | 80 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.6% | 1,060 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -12.9% | 40 | |
| Bookkeeper | -15.5% | 830 | |
| Recruiter | -15.6% | 640 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -17.0% | 1,620 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -17.9% | 410 | |
| Office Manager | -18.5% | 870 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -19.9% | 1,780 | |
| Accountant | -21.1% | 780 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -22.2% | 180 | |
| Paralegal | -25.1% | 120 | |
| Project Coordinator | -27.6% | 420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -32.7% | 400 | |
| Executive Assistant | -35.1% | 290 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -36.6% | 400 |
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 $38,100 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $49,161 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Central Missouri nonmetro area against the US
The Central Missouri nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-6.9%) and data entry specialists (-8.7%) and largest for marketing specialists (-36.6%). The middle gap across all 17 is -18.5%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for HR assistants, #236 of 384 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #496 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Central Missouri nonmetro area has more payroll specialists (1.8% of these jobs here, against 1.0% nationally) and virtual receptionists (10.6% against 5.7%), and fewer paralegals (1.2% against 2.5%) and sales development representatives (4.0% against 7.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Shreveport-Bossier City, LA is nearest, at -18.5%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muncie, IN | -18.2% | 15 | 3,740 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | -18.3% | 15 | 3,330 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | -18.5% | 16 | 15,130 |
| Central Missouri (Nonmetro) | -18.5% (this area) | 17 | 10,000 |
| Lafayette, LA | -18.7% | 16 | 14,680 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY | -18.9% | 16 | 12,600 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Central Missouri nonmetro area span $29,340–$93,020, the widest band (3.2×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $33,600–$47,960. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 10 of 17 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, data entry specialists, marketing specialists and 9 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($58,230 against a $47,100 median for sales development representatives).
the Central Missouri nonmetro area against Missouri
Against Missouri as a whole, the Central Missouri nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 15 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for HR assistants (-1.8%) and is furthest below for marketing specialists (-28.8%). It has the lowest median in Missouri for project coordinators and e-commerce order specialists.
Other areas in Missouri
By jobs in these roles, the Central Missouri nonmetro area is #6 of 12 areas in Missouri. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from St. Louis to St. Joseph.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 132,140 | 17 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 118,710 | 17 |
| Springfield, MO | 20,430 | 16 |
| Southeast Missouri (Nonmetro) | 10,450 | 16 |
| Columbia, MO | 10,200 | 16 |
| 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 the Central Missouri nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $74,080 a year, about $95,587 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $33,990.
Is hiring in the Central Missouri nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for marketing specialists (-36.6%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.