Cost of hiring in Columbus, GA-AL
BLS counts about 11,380 people in these 17 roles in Columbus1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($98,470 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($31,200), and Customer Support Specialist is the largest job, with about 2,150 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Columbus
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR Assistant | -3.0% | 140 | |
| Project Coordinator | -3.8% | 400 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -6.3% | 130 | |
| Accountant | -12.0% | 840 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -12.3% | 220 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -13.5% | 660 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -13.6% | 470 | |
| Recruiter | -13.7% | 700 | |
| Office Manager | -14.7% | 1,020 | |
| Bookkeeper | -15.5% | 920 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -15.9% | 1,030 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -16.6% | 2,150 | |
| Paralegal | -16.9% | 220 | |
| Executive Assistant | -17.7% | 240 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -17.9% | 910 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -19.0% | 30 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -21.0% | 1,300 |
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 $37,330 median for customer support specialists, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $48,168 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Columbus against the US
Columbus pays below the US median for all 17 roles. The gap is smallest for HR assistants (-3.0%) and project coordinators (-3.8%) and largest for administrative assistants (-21.0%). The middle gap across all 17 is -14.7%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #144 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for administrative assistants, #482 of 520.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Columbus has more data entry specialists (1.9% of these jobs here, against 0.8% nationally) and HR assistants (1.2% against 0.6%), and fewer project coordinators (3.5% against 6.7%) and e-commerce order specialists (0.3% against 0.5%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH is nearest, at -14.7%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, MO | -14.5% | 16 | 8,300 |
| Longview, TX | -14.6% | 17 | 10,300 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -14.7% | 15 | 4,400 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | -14.7% | 14 | 2,520 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | -14.7% (this area) | 17 | 11,380 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | -14.9% | 17 | 11,540 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in Columbus span $32,480–$136,140, the widest band (4.2×); e-commerce order specialists the narrowest, $31,030–$42,500. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 8 of 17 roles, e-commerce order specialists most ($35,530–$63,530 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, accountants, marketing specialists and 2 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($74,260 against a $60,560 median for sales development representatives).
Columbus against Georgia (US state)
Against Georgia (US state) as a whole, Columbus pays more only for HR assistants (+4.9%), and less for 16, most of all sales development representatives (-19.6%). It has the lowest median in Georgia (US state) for bookkeepers.
Other areas in Georgia
By jobs in these roles, Columbus is #6 of 18 areas in Georgia. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Atlanta-Sandy Springs to the East Georgia nonmetro area.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs, GA | 326,670 | 17 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 19,990 | 17 |
| Savannah, GA | 17,290 | 17 |
| South Georgia (Nonmetro) | 14,480 | 17 |
| North Georgia (Nonmetro) | 12,950 | 17 |
| Middle Georgia (Nonmetro) | 10,290 | 17 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | 8,500 | 16 |
| Gainesville, GA | 8,420 | 17 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | 7,860 | 15 |
| East Georgia (Nonmetro) | 6,290 | 16 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Columbus?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $98,470 a year, about $127,058 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $31,200.
Is hiring in Columbus cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 17 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for administrative assistants (-21.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.