Cost of hiring in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
Administrative Assistant is the largest of these 17 jobs in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area, with about 2,200 people1. Medians run from $35,240 a year for virtual receptionists to $87,860 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -5.6% | 880 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.1% | 2,160 | |
| HR Assistant | -6.2% | 80 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -7.3% | 1,060 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -8.6% | 2,200 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -8.6% | 90 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -10.4% | 150 | |
| Bookkeeper | -11.9% | 1,450 | |
| Office Manager | -12.0% | 1,560 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -13.7% | 150 | |
| Project Coordinator | -14.1% | 530 | |
| Recruiter | -17.1% | 730 | |
| Executive Assistant | -18.6% | 210 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -18.9% | 580 | |
| Accountant | -21.3% | 1,020 | |
| Paralegal | -21.5% | 200 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -22.7% | 470 |
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 $43,460 median for administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $56,077 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area against the US
The Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for medical administrative assistants (-5.6%) and customer support specialists (-6.1%) and largest for marketing specialists (-22.7%). The middle gap across all 17 is -12.0%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for customer support specialists, #231 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for accountants, #486 of 521.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area has more e-commerce order specialists (1.1% of these jobs here, against 0.5% nationally) and administrative assistants (16.3% against 10.8%), and fewer executive assistants (1.6% against 2.9%) and sales development representatives (4.3% against 7.9%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Evansville, IN is nearest, at -12.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen-Temple, TX | -11.9% | 17 | 13,290 |
| Kankakee, IL | -11.9% | 13 | 3,160 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | -12.0% | 17 | 75,230 |
| Central Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | -12.0% (this area) | 17 | 13,520 |
| Evansville, IN | -12.1% | 17 | 11,260 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -12.1% | 17 | 6,400 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area span $32,330–$115,410, the widest band (3.6×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $36,130–$49,620. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 9 of 17 roles, data entry specialists most ($31,200–$58,790 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, accountants, marketing specialists and 3 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($65,470 against a $56,790 median for sales development representatives).
the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area against Pennsylvania
Against Pennsylvania as a whole, the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area pays less for every one of the 17 roles with a statewide figure. It comes closest for data entry specialists (-2.7%) and is furthest below for paralegals (-22.1%). Its best rank within Pennsylvania is #10 of 20 areas, for customer support specialists.
Other areas in Pennsylvania
By jobs in these roles, the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area is #9 of 20 areas in Pennsylvania. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Allentown-Bethlehem to State College.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem, PA-NJ | 32,240 | 17 |
| Lancaster, PA | 21,700 | 17 |
| Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA | 20,060 | 17 |
| York-Hanover, PA | 14,930 | 17 |
| Reading, PA | 14,430 | 17 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,870 | 17 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 10,340 | 17 |
| Erie, PA | 9,750 | 17 |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania (Nonmetro) | 9,700 | 17 |
| State College, PA | 5,930 | 15 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the Central Pennsylvania nonmetro area?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $87,860 a year, about $113,368 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,240.
Is hiring in the Central Pennsylvania 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 (-22.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.