Cost of hiring in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
BLS counts about 37,280 people in these 17 roles in Durham-Chapel Hill1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($104,870 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($35,990), and Medical Administrative Assistant is the largest job, with about 5,820 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Durham-Chapel Hill
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Specialist | +18.2% | 2,740 | |
| Recruiter | +6.8% | 2,370 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +4.5% | 4,660 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +3.5% | 3,300 | |
| Project Coordinator | +2.5% | 3,180 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +2.0% | 5,820 | |
| Accountant | +1.7% | 3,060 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +0.6% | 3,120 | |
| Bookkeeper | +0.2% | 2,570 | |
| HR Assistant | -0.2% | 150 | |
| Office Manager | -1.5% | 2,690 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -2.1% | 260 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -3.2% | 190 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -5.3% | 880 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -12.0% | 200 | |
| Executive Assistant | -16.2% | 1,200 | |
| Paralegal | -16.5% | 890 |
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 $46,860 median for medical administrative assistants, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $60,465 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Durham-Chapel Hill against the US
Durham-Chapel Hill pays above the US median for 7 of the 17 roles, most of all for marketing specialists (+18.2%) and recruiters (+6.8%), and below it for 7, furthest for paralegals (-16.5%). For administrative assistants, bookkeepers and HR assistants it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 17 is +0.2%: overall, pay here is close to the US level. Its best national standing is for marketing specialists, #9 of 516 areas by median pay; its lowest is for e-commerce order specialists, #205 of 287.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Durham-Chapel Hill has more medical administrative assistants (15.6% of these jobs here, against 6.1% nationally) and marketing specialists (7.3% against 5.7%), and fewer virtual receptionists (2.4% against 5.7%) and payroll specialists (0.5% against 1.0%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Ithaca, NY is nearest, at +0.1%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | +0.4% | 17 | 45,380 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | +0.2% (this area) | 17 | 37,280 |
| Ithaca, NY | +0.1% | 14 | 4,920 |
| Richmond, VA | +0.1% | 17 | 69,980 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | +0.1% | 17 | 169,360 |
| Bismarck, ND | +0.1% | 15 | 6,080 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in Durham-Chapel Hill span $42,380–$171,940, the widest band (4.1×); medical administrative assistants the narrowest, $38,610–$59,010. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 10 of 17 roles, data entry specialists most ($31,200–$58,790 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, paralegals, accountants and 6 more roles: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($93,180 against a $72,460 median for sales development representatives).
Durham-Chapel Hill against North Carolina
Against North Carolina as a whole, Durham-Chapel Hill pays more for 14 of 17 roles, led by marketing specialists (+18.7%) and customer support specialists (+16.3%), and less for 3, most of all e-commerce order specialists (-11.8%). It has the highest median in North Carolina for marketing specialists, recruiters and sales development representatives and 3 more roles.
Other areas in North Carolina
By jobs in these roles, Durham-Chapel Hill is #3 of 18 areas in North Carolina. The table shows the areas closest to it in size, from Charlotte-Concord to Hickory-Lenoir.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 150,280 | 17 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 87,470 | 17 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 37,170 | 17 |
| 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 |
| Central North Carolina (Nonmetro) | 17,340 | 17 |
| Hickory-Lenoir, NC | 12,690 | 17 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Of the 17 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $104,870 a year, about $135,316 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $35,990.
Is hiring in Durham-Chapel Hill cheaper than the US median?
For 7 of the 17 roles, yes, most of all paralegals (-16.5%). 7 pay more than the US median, led by marketing specialists (+18.2%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.