Cost of hiring in Columbia, MO
Customer Support Specialist is the largest of these 16 jobs in Columbia, with about 1,870 people1. Medians run from $34,020 a year for virtual receptionists to $80,870 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Columbia
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -3.0% | 50 | |
| Bookkeeper | -3.5% | 880 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -8.0% | 1,870 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -8.8% | 430 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -10.5% | 730 | |
| Office Manager | -11.3% | 930 | |
| Accountant | -12.7% | 930 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -16.5% | 1,350 | |
| Recruiter | -16.6% | 640 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -17.1% | 90 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -17.8% | 600 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -18.3% | 100 | |
| Executive Assistant | -19.7% | 390 | |
| Project Coordinator | -21.0% | 580 | |
| Paralegal | -21.5% | 230 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -34.1% | 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 $41,210 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $53,174 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Columbia against the US
Columbia pays below the US median for all 16 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-3.0%) and bookkeepers (-3.5%) and largest for sales development representatives (-34.1%). The middle gap across all 16 is -16.5%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for bookkeepers, #188 of 521 areas by median pay; its lowest is for sales development representatives, #493 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Columbia has more executive assistants (3.8% of these jobs here, against 2.9% nationally) and virtual receptionists (7.2% against 5.8%), and fewer sales development representatives (3.9% against 8.0%) and medical administrative assistants (4.2% against 6.1%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ is nearest, at -16.5%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | -16.5% | 17 | 7,250 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | -16.5% | 15 | 4,800 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | -16.5% | 15 | 5,000 |
| Columbia, MO | -16.5% (this area) | 16 | 10,200 |
| Slidell-Mandeville, LA | -16.6% | 14 | 9,120 |
| Charleston, WV | -16.7% | 16 | 9,840 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Columbia span $30,760–$100,060, the widest band (3.3×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $35,870–$52,200. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 11 of 16 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, payroll specialists and 5 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($57,670 against a $46,140 median for sales development representatives).
Columbia against Missouri
Against Missouri as a whole, Columbia pays more for 3 of 15 roles, led by HR assistants (+2.3%) and executive assistants (+2.0%), and less for 12, most of all sales development representatives (-23.7%). Its best rank within Missouri is #3 of 12 areas, for accountants.
Other areas in Missouri
By jobs in these roles, Columbia is #5 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 |
| 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 Columbia?
Of the 16 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $80,870 a year, about $104,348 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $34,020.
Is hiring in Columbia cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 16 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for sales development representatives (-34.1%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.