Cost of hiring in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area, with about 2,630 people1. Medians run from $32,590 a year for virtual receptionists to $94,170 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -4.5% | 120 | |
| Project Coordinator | -8.0% | 630 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -8.3% | 80 | |
| Accountant | -10.2% | 1,410 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.7% | 210 | |
| Bookkeeper | -13.0% | 2,250 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -13.2% | 2,110 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -14.3% | 770 | |
| Office Manager | -16.2% | 1,440 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -17.0% | 2,350 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -18.6% | 1,040 | |
| Recruiter | -18.6% | 1,030 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -18.9% | 200 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -19.1% | 2,630 | |
| Paralegal | -21.4% | 250 | |
| Executive Assistant | -22.7% | 250 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -24.0% | 570 |
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 $36,230 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $46,748 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Central North Carolina nonmetro area against the US
The Central North Carolina nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-4.5%) and project coordinators (-8.0%) and largest for marketing specialists (-24.0%). The middle gap across all 17 is -16.2%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for project coordinators, #232 of 518 areas by median pay; its lowest is for customer support specialists, #475 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Central North Carolina nonmetro area has more medical administrative assistants (13.6% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and data entry specialists (1.2% against 0.8%), and fewer executive assistants (1.4% against 2.9%) and project coordinators (3.6% against 6.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Parkersburg-Vienna, WV is nearest, at -16.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | -16.1% | 13 | 3,390 |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | -16.2% (this area) | 17 | 17,340 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | -16.3% | 17 | 17,370 |
| Morgantown, WV | -16.4% | 16 | 5,530 |
| Victoria, TX | -16.4% | 13 | 3,320 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | -16.4% | 15 | 7,860 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area span $28,510–$129,850, the widest band (4.6×); data entry specialists the narrowest, $29,990–$46,710. Wider than nationally for sales development representatives and virtual receptionists, narrower for data entry specialists and paralegals. Budget from the median for marketing specialists, sales development representatives, recruiters and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($71,580 against a $59,840 median for marketing specialists).
the Central North Carolina nonmetro area against North Carolina
Against North Carolina as a whole, the Central North Carolina nonmetro area pays about the same or less for all 17 roles, and less for 16, most of all marketing specialists (-23.7%). Its best rank within North Carolina is #8 of 16 areas, for HR assistants.
Other areas in North Carolina
By jobs in these roles, the Central North Carolina nonmetro area is #10 of 18 areas in North Carolina. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Winston-Salem to Jacksonville.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Winston-Salem, NC | 26,040 | 17 |
| Eastern North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,670 | 17 |
| Western North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 21,250 | 17 |
| Wilmington, NC | 19,910 | 17 |
| Asheville, NC | 18,810 | 17 |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | 12,690 | 17 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 11,520 | 17 |
| Greenville, NC | 7,660 | 16 |
| Burlington, NC | 5,960 | 15 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 5,050 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Central North Carolina nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $94,170 a year, about $121,510 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $32,590.
Is hiring in the Central North Carolina 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 (-24.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.